The wire to the steering column is the ground wire. The other terminal is connected to a power source. When you push the horn button you are making the ground connection, completing the circuit and honking the horn.

I'd be very surprised if connecting two horns in series worked. It doesn't work the same way as lights, for example. If you connected two 6 V headlights in series to a 12 V battery, each one would have 6 volts across it because the resistance of each one is approximately equal. But the horns are constantly interrupting the current and they don't act like resistors. So the simple V = IR law doesn't apply. To complicate things even more, each one is interrupting the current at its own rate (frequency) so it would be tough to keep them both happy.

The good news is that horns are very forgiving and hooking one to a 12 V battery won't hurt it, provided you just "toot" it and not sustain long blasts. I have a friend who converted his '54 pickup to 12 V and didn't change the horns. The pitch changed a little but the best thing is that they got even louder than they were originally!

hi Tony,
On looking at the wiring diagram, what you say now makes sense to me.

Question: Does it matter which terminal on the horn, the wires are attached to? are they universal, power in and out?

Peter

It does not make any difference which one each wire is connected.

Can someone shed a little light on which wire go's where on the 6 volt horn relay for the trumpets? I'm thinking my relay might be shot. Thanks for any info on this,
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Joes 37

Yesterday I did a test on the 6 volt horn, it worked.
I was not prepared for the very loud noise that it made and it made me jump in the air, 2nd and 3rd test I had regained my composure

Do I have to wire it up with a relay and if it is advisable, do I ask for a 6 volt relay?

Peter

The single horn doesn't need a relay.

...It never dawned on me to change the horn when converting to 12 volt...and I didn't notice a difference...