Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
No. 1eI-TOOt! loot!

Ordinarily Smith is n very quiet
neichbor. but the other afternoon he
seemed to be changing in character.
The racket was. terrible. 1t seems
that he had sounded his horn TO warn
child playing on the driveway and
the horn kept right on blowing of it's
own volition.
why don't YOU stop it?" ] asked
running out 10 offer assistance.
I've unscrewed the horn button
cap" he shouted above the din, but
still the confounded thing keeps blow
ing
ITS grounded somewhere" ]
shrieked hack.
Grounded? / should think IL you
grounded the horn it would stop blow
ing altogether. just as your lights go
out II there's short circuit to
ground" Smith answered
1t was necessary to remind Smith
that the horn button is placed in the
ground circuit of the horn. which is
Just the reverse Of the other electrical
devices Of the car. One side of the
horn motor is wired to the ammeter
while the other is attached TO the
frame Of the car. but with the button
TO make or break the current along
the line. The advantage OF this ar
rangement is that only one wire is
needed in the steering gear post since
the metal post itself can act rs re-
turn wire.
Stopping Noise Simple.
When I showed Smith the situation
he simply disconnected the ground
wire to the horn motor and the noise
stopped. OF course he could have
achieved the same result by discon-
Meeting the other lead. but ! wanted
him to study the ground connection.
All the troubles that go to setting
horns running of their own accord
happen along this ground wire con
nection: The explanation is simple
enough. If the insulation becomes
worn at any point and the wire
touches metal the chances are 10 to l
that the current will find a direct path
back to the battery and thus complete
& circuit.
We found, upon examining the
wiring. just such short. 1t prompt.
" was remedied by wrapping tape
around the bare spot. And while we
were on the subject 1 took the oppor-
tunity to remind Smith that whenever
there is a short circuit along the other
lead-the one running to the am.
meter thence to the other side of the
batteryl-the horn simply goes dead.
Now that that's fixed" Smith
asked, Il wonder if YOU can show me
how to adjust the horn for a louder
tone. l don't like the sound OF 1t
these days"
THE best adjustment you can make
is to keep the horn motor clean and
adequately fabricated" | told him.
Its a case of cleaning and oiling in
most instances: not of mechanical ad.
justment The tone Of your horn is
largely a matter of how fast the arma
ture can revolve. 1t also has much to
do with the safety of the horn"
What do you mean by safety of
the horn?" he asked.
Horn Must Work Fast.
"A horn that doesn't reach it's
ma ximum speed instantly Is ineffi
Gent" / explained. ITO be a genuine
safety factor, horn nowadays must
not need any appreciate time in get
ting up speed. 1t must do it's best in
stantly il it is to attract attention and
serve as an adequate warning signal
to busy and careless individuals.
once a month inspect the horn by
removing the cover plate. Wipe off
the commutator of the motor with a
clean cloth and If, by any chance.
there seems to he an unusual amount
of grit or oil smudge. hold a piece OF
fine sandpape against it for second