Thread: Can you use a battery charger to test horns

Tweet

I dont have a 6 volt battery to test a horn I wanted to sell. Can you test 6 volt horns fans etc useing a 6 volt battery charger. I wanted to ask before I blew something up

Sure. Just put it on the 6 volt setting. Just don't keep it on there real long, as the amps may be a little high.

Don

if it's a trickle charger you have, it will be fine as there only 1.5 amp

The horn only draws the amperage it needs. The battery charger can't force more through it than the coil will draw. You could have a 1000 amp battery charger, and it wouldn't make a difference - as long as it was six volts. However, a short test would be a good idea. Horns aren't made to blow continuously.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Horns aren't made to blow continuously.

I run across a few people that seem to think differently.

I've got a 10 amp rated battery charger. I use it to test darn near everything. I've even done a few starters for quick burst, but they will overheat the charger in short order. I've used it to test horns, excite alternator fields, ignition coils, headlights, etc...

Originally Posted by pelligrini

I run across a few people that seem to think differently.

Amen brother! You must work for Lockheed too.

I use my 9.6 volt battery out of my Makita cordless drill to run my power windows up or down, operate the power trunk lift or the door solenoids during construction on my 32 coupe.