Horn relay - surprise!

[73E9er]

With more rainy days coming here in Portland, OR, with the coupe idle in the garage, I set about tackling the installation of a relay in my low beam lights circuit - a project I'd meant to do years ago. I prepped the car, gaining access to the lights, removing the battery, etc. I had a hard copy of the Daniel Stern Lighting article on the subject, and my wiring diagram for the coupe.

I thought I'd dismount the two existing relays (high beam, horn) from the mount next to the battery to give more access to the up-coming wiring effort. Upon pulling out the horn relay, I noticed that instead of two green/yellow leads coming from relay post 87, there was just a single red lead. What the...? I followed this lead a short distance to where it disappeared into an eight-inch length if electrical tape, at the other side of which, indeed, two green/yellow leads appeared. The wrapped length looked like a snake that swallowed a pig. I unwrapped the entire "thing" and found what is in the attached picture. There are four (4) resistors(?) labeled "DII/IN5401", and a 1-1/2" x 1/2" cylindrical element, labeled G(or Theda sign) 4/80XXXX (lettering rubbed off). What is this thing? Have I found my coupe's Flux Capacitor?

As my horns have always worked, even after my installing two FIAMMs a few years ago, I can only surmise that a previous owner/mechanic buggered this circuit to install a set of horns that had some unique electrical requirement - say, 6-volt horns. Looking back at my horn upgrade, I always thought that the FIAMMs should have been much louder!

In any case, can anyone diagnose what this contraption is - and if I need worry about any downside from removing it and restoring my horn relay circuit to "stock"?

Thanks.

Gary

 

[Mike Goble]

The 1N5401's are diodes. The cylinder appears to be a capacitor.

 

[jmackro]

The 1N5401's are diodes. The cylinder appears to be a capacitor.

Yes. But are both ends of the capacitor connected? And what would three diodes + a capacitor be doing in a DC circuit? Acting as a "snubber" to extend the life of the points in the horn relay?

any downside from removing it and restoring my horn relay circuit to "stock"?

I would definitely chuck out that "science fair project" and go back to stock; e.g., just a simple wire.

 

[Mike Goble]

There are four diodes. Better pics of the setup would be more revealing as to the circuit design.

 

[73E9er]

Here are three additional pics of "the thing". Red-in, blues-out.

Gary

 

[Mike Goble]

Looks like just diodes in parallel with anodes and cathodes connected, the cap is an axial case and one end isn't hooked up. The way the diodes are configured you would get about 0.7v drop across them in either polarity.

 

[73E9er]

I Goggled 12v-6v conversion circuits and saw what I will consider some that are very close to what this "thing" was in my coupe. So, out it went and back-to-stock went my horn relay. Man, did this change things! My FIAMM horns now can truly compete with a GE locomotive.

Mission accomplished. Thanks to all responders.

Oh - I also completed my project of installing a relay in the low beam circuit. Wow, this made a big difference in candlepower output from my H4's. I recommend this small task to all that have not yet done it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Gary

 

[Arde]

That circuit does not seem like a 6V conversion scheme, it was surreptitiously installed by a neighbor fed up with the FIAMM decibels.