I purchased the BikeTac Horn for my Catrike 700 because it is LOUD. It truly is! I did, however experience a problem—battery drain. After 4 days or so on a fresh 9-volt battery, the battery was consumed. I asked Lt. Gale about this and was told it should not happen. He offered to replace the horn. I did not accept his offer because I was more interested in pinpointing the cause for the drain.
After complete disassembly and sub-system testing, I found no apparent cause for the drain, The final component was the printed circuit board [PCB]—there are no detectable shorts on the board. At this point, I accepted Lt. Gale’s offer and received a replacement BikeTac Horn. I even detected battery drain with the replacement.
Now you see it [the horn] in my Power Box. I wired it differently. Rather that constant connection from the battery to the PCB, I use a normally-open push-button switch to pulse current to the horn when I want sound. Where the BikeTac Horn used its actuate buttons to select siren or horn [with the horn always on]. I have a 3-position mode switch [siren-off-horn] and then a “power” switch.
Sound [REALLY LOUD SOUND] is instantaneous. Had I not experienced my battery drain problem, I would not have known the horn can operate at 12-volts and that it is even louder at that voltage. I’m anxious to see how dogs respond. I like dogs—yet anxious, nonetheless. 
I am thankful to Lt. Shelley Gale for the quality customer service. Thank you sir! –jim
I was just wondering Jim, if, with that horn mounted directly behind you……..
is that going to be pretty brutal on your ears?
Glad you got the battery drain issue worked out. Your planning and putting all these components together far in advance or your tour, is of course, vital to your trouble free ride, but it benefits all of us as well.
As you do all these little tweaks to correct problems or potential problems, we can take note and benefit from your expertise and planning.
Again, an awesome project!
Thanks for sharing it!
Hello Jack,
Thank you for your very kind words. I like focusing on the ride versus some setup or accessory, thus my early planning & setup.
As to LOUD horn: If I hold the button down for an extended period–yes, although I can wear hearing protection. I find just a tap on the button is sufficient for most traffic situations. i use a bell for pedestrians and cyclist.
Happy to share.
Thanks!
Jim
Jim so after I get this horn and supply of 9 volt batteries, what kind of switch do I need, and where do I get the switch. It the horn older than my old one. Maybe you could give us and audio test? Thanks Jim, you are doing all the things I wanted to do – for now I am living my life through your adventures. Andy.
Hi Andy,
I’m using a SPDT as a mode selector and SPST NO push button off the battery for current flow. The horn comes with 2 NO SPST push button switches, one for siren and the other for horn. I hope this is clear. If not, once you have it in your hands, you will see. I can blow it, but how will you hear it?
I’m happy you are following what I am doing. Much more to come. Please stay tuned…
Thanks Andy.
Jim
Add I post this on my blog too?
Very good. Please give us a link. THANKS!
Jim
Jim, you said:
“Had I not experienced my battery drain problem, I would not have known about the even louder potential.”
it’s not clear what you meant by that. are you saying that the horn is even louder the way you wired it?
Hello MJ,
Sorry about that.
No, wiring has no effect on the horn’s volume. Through my communications with Lt. Gale, I learned the horn can run on 12-volts and that its sound is louder at 12-volts than at 9-volts. Twelve-volts works for me because it eliminates a battery. Plus, the way I wired it, there can be no drain.
Thanks!
Jim
So the horn is going to fire at the back or other box? Are you expecting it to radiate sound better like that? I know these types of horns are incredibly loud if you are in the area they are aimed at, wondering how well it will work in this position. Have you by chance had anyone stand around in positions where cars etc might be that you are trying to warn off (right hook/left hook positions, overtaking to the rear, overtaking on your side, front right backing out of a driveway) and seen how loud it is from those positions?
When I put my Airzound on my handlebars, then a front fairing… the fairing reflected a huge percentage of the sound right back at me, reducing it’s effectiveness dramatically to the front. Curious if your position will work well or disperse the sound to much… or make it more difficult to locate the source of the noise.
You are completely over the top as usual in the Captain Dashboard department, I love it.
Hello Scott,
The horn is loud enough to be heard, regardless of its placement on the cycle. Based on using the horn on my Catrike, I think the source of the sound will be distinguishable. The reality is, one is rolling. Horn placement at one instant is different at another instant, yet the source is identifiable.
As to location on my quad: My effort is to be modular and minimize the wiring runs and the accessories the have to be placed on the quad–not the radiation of sound. My Power Box facilitates modularity. The loudness behind me versus in front of me is not significantly different. I think it will work well irspective of its placement.
I’m a minimum horn user. I prefer my bell; however, If the horn is needed, I will use short blast where the high sound level is not reached. Given my riding experience, I expect it to be used more for dogs, than cars. Dogs generally give chase from the rear of approach the rider’s torso. If placement matters, I think it is “better” positioned for the unsuspecting dog [likely to launch from the right side of the road].
I used my Airzounds in different positions on different cycles. Each of the different positions seemed effective.
Thank for the dashboard compliment. I strive for utility and functionality. In this cas thee is a high degree of simplicity because the wires are in the box. I’m liking it and find it difficult waiting to use it on my quad. My trailer will also have a bit of unique electronics–stay tuned.
Thanks you Scott for the visit and your comment.
Jim