NZ: loudest legal horn?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › NZ: loudest legal horn?

kingdragonfly

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#217862 16-Jul-2017 09:13

Before I get any flame post, here's my reason for asking about the loudest legal horn in NZ.

My Kia 2014 Picanto uses the horn for the burglar alarm, and I'm parking in dodgy places.

I've only used my horn once every few months. The horn doesn't "toot" when the alarm is activated either.

I was thinking of getting a klaxon or "aa-oo-ga" horn so I could identify my car alarm.

Anyhow from my reading of NZTA rules, there's no maximum loudness, just that it can be heard from 100 meters, and some inapplicable rules around bells, whistle and sirens.

Is that correct?

http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/light-psvs/vehicle-interior/audible-warning-devices

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#1823109 16-Jul-2017 09:16

Ive got 5x 152db train horns and the warrant people just think its hilarious. I do warn them not to test it indoors first to be fair to the guys in the pits.

richms

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#1823110 16-Jul-2017 09:18

A friend was caught out when they added in the limitation of not playing a tune at the wof place when la cucaracha belted out at an absurd volume because he forgot to turn it off once. Was not a problem for a very long time. Not sure when they added that one into the list of problems.

It was the tune, not the volume that was the problem.

Richard rich.ms

kingdragonfly

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#1823125 16-Jul-2017 09:52

I have a follow on question.

I'm seeing both 12V and 24V horns.

Does 24V giving you a louder horn, and is there some kind of box you can plug between a car's 12V and the horn?

I'm looking for a compact solution.

noroad

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#1823126 16-Jul-2017 09:57

kingdragonfly: I have a follow on question.

I'm seeing both 12V and 24V horns.

Does 24V giving you a louder horn, and is there some kind of box you can plug between a car's 12V and the horn?

I'm looking for a compact solution.

no, only use 24v if you have a 24v vehicle. If you want compact then I would recommend this sort of thing -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stebel-Nautilus-Compact-Motor-Bike-Air-Horn-Black-139dB-12-volt-Motorcycle-Loud-/121247579419?epid=869338183&hash=item1c3aeb3d1b:g:vvgAAOSwsXFZGsEb&vxp=mtr

put two of those on the car and you are good to go.

Bung

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#1823141 16-Jul-2017 10:50

kingdragonfly: I was thinking of getting a klaxon or "aa-oo-ga" horn so I could identify my car alarm.

Anyhow from my reading of NZTA rules, there's no maximum loudness, just that it can be heard from 100 meters, and some inapplicable rules around bells, whistle and sirens.

Is that correct?

http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/light-psvs/vehicle-interior/audible-warning-devices

Your car horn has to be a steady note not musical and while there isn't a limit in the VIRM WOF test there is this in the Road User Rules
7.4 (5)
A person must not, at any time,—
(a)
use a warning device on a motor vehicle otherwise than as a reasonable traffic warning; or
(b)
make an unnecessary or unreasonably loud, harsh, or shrill noise by means of a warning device on a motor vehicle.

It's often struck me that Mazdas have loud horns. Louder than that would probably pass for unreasonable.

Any limit on car alarms would probably in noise control legislation rather than WoF.

scuwp

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#1823164 16-Jul-2017 11:18

Correct, and this destroyed my childhood dream of having a cool orange car with doors welded shut and musical air horns! Crushed.....

I have also heard of car horns or sirens coming under local noise control scrutiny, but I guess that would be more to do with circumstances of use rather than the capability alone.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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Bung

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#1823175 16-Jul-2017 11:44

There comes a time when age or corporation makes climbing in the windows look even more ridiculous than the car :-)

From a Council noise control page

Excessive noise does not include any noise emitted by any:

Aircraft being operated during, or immediately before or after, flight
Vehicle being driven on a road (within the meaning of section 2(1) of [the Land Transport Act 1998)
Train, other than when being tested (when stationary), maintained, loaded, or unloaded.

I think that means if moving it'll be the Police on the case rather than noise control.

kingdragonfly

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#1823265 16-Jul-2017 14:47

"Pranking Drivers With the Ooga Horn"

mdooher

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#1823267 16-Jul-2017 15:01

kingdragonfly: I have a follow on question.

I'm seeing both 12V and 24V horns.

Does 24V giving you a louder horn, and is there some kind of box you can plug between a car's 12V and the horn?

I'm looking for a compact solution.

For compact you can't go past the "Stebel Nautilus". I had one on my Ducati...

Matthew

kingdragonfly

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#1823383 16-Jul-2017 19:04

Came up with this web page, for compact horns. Obviously if it works on a motorcycle, it's should be ok in a car

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-horns/

Scott3

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#1823480 16-Jul-2017 21:33

Hella "super tone" is common on rally car's. They are simple and lightweight.

If you want a more truck like horn sound, then you will need to go for an air horn. These are available with little instant compressors so you don't need an air tank etc (unless you want a full on train horn, which needs a big air tank to run it.)

You may need to rig a relay to your stock horn wiring if it does not have the capacity to run an aftermarket horn.

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#1823512 16-Jul-2017 22:29

noroad:

Ive got 5x 152db train horns and the warrant people just think its hilarious. I do warn them not to test it indoors first to be fair to the guys in the pits.

mhm, yep. Your horn is definitely one that i always recall!

far more noticeable than the bike....

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michaelmurfy

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#1823537 16-Jul-2017 23:51

Something I'd love to do with my next car:

Watch the end especially - a train horn in a car seems awesome.

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jarledb

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#1823538 17-Jul-2017 01:02

noroad:

Ive got 5x 152db train horns and the warrant people just think its hilarious. I do warn them not to test it indoors first to be fair to the guys in the pits.

Be careful with that. (Although I have to admit I am skeptical about the 152dB claim).

I have permanent tinitus from working with a burglar alarm sirene that had a level of 120 dB at around 4 KHz and went off about 1/2 a meter from me. The sirene is made to be used together with a fog and strobe system to make sure burglars have no way of communicating or orienting themselves. That sirene was LOUD. 10 years of being a sound engineer previous to that didn't wreck my hearing to the same extent as that sirene.

150 dB will rupture someones eardrums..

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noroad

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#1823568 17-Jul-2017 07:41

jarledb:

noroad:

Ive got 5x 152db train horns and the warrant people just think its hilarious. I do warn them not to test it indoors first to be fair to the guys in the pits.

Be careful with that. (Although I have to admit I am skeptical about the 152dB claim).

I have permanent tinitus from working with a burglar alarm sirene that had a level of 120 dB at around 4 KHz and went off about 1/2 a meter from me. The sirene is made to be used together with a fog and strobe system to make sure burglars have no way of communicating or orienting themselves. That sirene was LOUD. 10 years of being a sound engineer previous to that didn't wreck my hearing to the same extent as that sirene.

150 dB will rupture someones eardrums..

Oh, I'm skeptical about the 152db as well, I spent a lot of time around jet engines and I doubt these horns get to that level. But they are damn loud, they set off car alarms if you use it in car parks :-) They are very effective at stopping the errant lane changer.

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