So what exactly is a Train Horn Kit?
Well, it’s the components necessary to make your loud ass train horn. Train horn kits for pimped out cars, SUV’s, and trucks are becoming wildly popular. In fact we can pretty much assume that once you have your train horn installed you’ll probably forget to ever use that weak, wimpy stock horn that came with your vehicle.
So What’s In The Box
Our train horn kit buyers usually buy a complete kit to ensure a simple, no-hassle installation. Although labeled a train horn, your new vehicle horn that is as loud as the horn on a barreling locomotive is sized to fit just about any vehicle including compact cars.
Here’s what you get when you buy a train horn kit:
The Air Tank
The air tanks comes in various sizes. For a SUV or truck installation, the common tank installed is in the applications, the 1 to 5 gallon size range. The air tanks maintains the pressure that the compressor regulates. There can be a number of air ports for accessibility and there is usually an air gauge attached.
The Compressor
A compressor is an air pump that when activated fills the air tank with compressed air. Compressor capacities are generally matched to the size tank. the first time you fill it may take a couple of minutes but don’t worry, re-filling the compressor is a bit quicker thereafter.
It is becoming increasingly common among train horn owners to have two compressors operating in tandem for super-quick re-fills.
The Horn
Train horns come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Individual separate trumpets are slim and can be up to two feet long. In an attached design, there are two trumpet horns, three trumpet horns and even four trumpet horns. It’s generally believed that you need three or more trumpets in the array to product as authentic train horn tone. Each trumpet sounds a different note. It’s the combination of these notes that produce the distinction “blat” that immediately says “train horn.”
The better train horns are made of metal. Plastic horns are OK in low priced value kits but they are not considered the “real deal” by most train horn enthusiasts. But if you’re running a bit tight, you can always start with a plastic model. Steel, zinc, brass and copper are common metals. Horns are either chrome or gold plated or painted black.
Horns are activated by a solenoid that resides within the horn. Horns (and compressors) are energized by your 12 volt source. The horn can be activated by your regular horn button or you can buy a new separate horn switch. It’s all in the installation.
Sometimes you will see decibel ratings given in a horn’s specs. To adequately compare across systems, the reading must be taken with the same instrument, properly calibrated and at the same distance from the horn. This is rarely the case so take these readings with a large grain of salt.
These are the basic components of any train horn kit. You should receive enough air hose, fittings and hook-up wire to do the job. Don’t be shy about having a pro do the job. Shops that specialize in aftermarket installations of sound systems and alarms would be an appropriate choice.
