Replacement horn...is nothing simple?
 

I have a 1988 Formula 311 SR-1 and the horns sounded anemic so I ordered (what looked like) the closest replacements I could find. There was no connection diagram with the Seadog horns but the the hull has two sets of paired wires coming out so I snipped them and hooked the replacement horns up (as the "original" horns were hooked up). (Picture below)

When I pushed the horn button all I heard was an electronic noise/click but no real horn sound. I assumed that maybe the horns had a polarity issue, so I tried a couple of combinations. I discovered that when I hooked only on of the horns up (to either set of wires coming out of the hull) it worked as it should (so individually they both work)...but when I hooked both horns up to either one wire (coming out of the hull) or to separate wires coming out of the hull...NOTHING (But the click/electronic noise).
Any suggestions?
Could the horns be drawing to many amps from the "tired" electricals...I will say that the wiring looks in great shape.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tomhttps://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...29f3d25e05.jpg

Use a voltmeter and find out if your getting any voltage and how much

Good idea...
I checked the horns by hooking them both directly to 12V (my truck battery)...and they sounded fine.
I will check for sure BUT I believe both wires coming out of the boat hull have enough voltage to run either horn but not both horns...so I THINK its some sort of amp draw issue or some current restriction???
I pulled and reset the circuit breaker for the horn circuit (thinking that it might not be at 100%)...but that did not help the situation.
I am always stumped by electrical stuff...as a mechanical engineering student, I had to take one electrical class (TWICE)!

Many times the boat manufactures use to small a wire to carry the load, but knowing what the voltage is during activation will indicate what the issue would be

No post.

Undersized wires, multiple splices added over time and a bit of corrosion can greatly reduce the voltage actually getting to the accessory - in this case your horns

Plus, hunk of schit bottom of the barrel manufacturing.

Replaced my horn with a Hella. Good company right ? Lasted the test 'blow' and that's it. Checked reviews on Amazon and that's what most reviews said. Doh !

Thanks all!

Newest information...I get 13+ volts out of each wire when the horn button is depressed.
Also, as I have stated, each horn works individually on either wire coming out of the boat hull BUT when I connect both up I get a kind of electric "thump" and no horn noise. However, when I have one horn hooked up and I depress the horn button (and the single horn works)...WHILE continuing to depress the horn button, if I attach the second set of wires to the horn, I get both horns working as designed/desired. If I let the horn button go and retry it...nothing.
Its like the first horn has to be up and running before the 2nd horn will work.
I hypothesize that the initial amp draw of the two horns simultaneously is to much for some component of the distribution???
Next, I will try jumpering across the horn button to see if that is the weak link...any other suggestions out there?
Thanks,Tom

delete duplicate