Upgrading the Rivian horn -- how-to DIY video

[nukem384]

Great job on the tutorial. As others have mentioned, maybe film landscape instead of portrait next time, but the info was there!

What I'm wondering (and impressive) is how you were using both hands and filming with no helper? Have a mount of your chest or something? Looks too low for like a head strap and GoPro type setup.

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[Rub-ish]

Had a close call on the freeway 2 weeks ago, 99% sure the guy didn't even hear the horn on the truck. The single tone setup just didn't sit well with me, especially because its so easy/cheap to add a second tone and help things break through the traffic noise. I'd seen other threads discussing this but no documentation, so I filmed as I did my install to create a guide for others looking to do the same:



Luckily, adding a second high tone at 500 Hz is straightforward: $30 worth of stuff and ~1 hour of time.

WHAT I BOUGHT:
I went for a standard 400Hz/500Hz dual tone setup, using the current horn on the Rivian as the low tone. Don't buy a 400Hz horn...you already have this on the truck!
Horn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VU51C6
Leads: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FVJR31Z
Connectors: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC8THCG8

BONUS: During the install I found the 12V wires in the harness for a 12V outlet in the frunk tub (recent builds don't have this outlet) on a summer 2023 truck. Future project!

Haven't had anybody almost merge in to me yet in traffic since, so can't say if it works any better, but I feel better! Hope it proves useful to somebody else.

Any chance you got a clear picture of the single horn oem connector?

I'm going to do this mod with some different horns, and I'm looking to cobble together a longer harness and mount one Hella DL50 on either side

Heavy Tone DL50

 

[Nuclianba]

Any chance you got a clear picture of the single horn oem connector?

I'm going to do this mod with some different horns, and I'm looking to cobble together a longer harness and mount one Hella DL50 on either side

Heavy Tone DL50

This is the best I got, halway-ish through the video you can see the connector, but I don't know what type it is:

 

[Nuclianba]

Great job on the tutorial. As others have mentioned, maybe film landscape instead of portrait next time, but the info was there!

What I'm wondering (and impressive) is how you were using both hands and filming with no helper? Have a mount of your chest or something? Looks too low for like a head strap and GoPro type setup.

Maybe you're all doing it wrong with landscape monitors???

Actually this is why it ended up vertical, I just put the phone in my shirt pocket when filming and it fits one way with the camera sticking out the top of the pocket. Only afterwards when putting it all together did I realize my horrible mistake.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It’s a kit. And still has two horns. Watch the video that shows an unboxing.

I wonder if this would fit where the original sits?
https://a.co/d/5dIwQmb

Likely no. Factory location is pretty tight. I don't remember where exactly I got the impression—Munro's tear-down video perhaps. Plus, that one is actuated by air pressure. That short cylinder you see is the air compressor. It draws more current than the factory horn, electro-mechanical diaphragm type. You would only be able to use factory wiring as a relay trigger. Power source for the air horn would need to come direct from the 12V with its own fuse.

We already know the factory wiring/fuse supported two electro-mechanical ones. Lower risk and simpler route.

 

[agame32]

Maybe you're all doing it wrong with landscape monitors???

Actually this is why it ended up vertical, I just put the phone in my shirt pocket when filming and it fits one way with the camera sticking out the top of the pocket. Only afterwards when putting it all together did I realize my horrible mistake.

I was wondering what kind of chest mount you were using. This is an awesome explanation for the vertical orientation! KISS… ??

 

[Polar]

Thanks OP!!

I am far more confident in expressing my feelings through HORN now. On the potential down side - I now sound like a Subaru.

Added OEM horn recording - not any scientific test dual horn just sounds louder with the dissonance.

 

[Polar]

Maybe you're all doing it wrong with landscape monitors???

You joke - but I’ve run portrait monitors for the past 15 years.

 

[Nuclianba]

Thanks OP!!

I am far more confident in expressing my feelings through HORN now. On the potential down side - I now sound like a Subaru.

Added OEM horn recording - not any scientific test dual horn just sounds louder with the dissonance.

Sounds good! It's louder now, you've doubled the sound pressure, but that doesn't mean it sounds twice as loud. Our perception of sound is not linear. That's why decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale. Both horns are in the 110 decibel range, both together will be 113 decibels, because math. That sound meter probably won't show much difference...We perceive 10 decibel changes as a doubling of volume. As you say, it's the dual tone that makes the sound stand out, particularly in environments with high ambient noise, aka the highway.

As for sounding like a Subaru, I tried to swap in a 330 Hz horn instead of the 500 to create a lower, trucklike tone. I liked it less, might have just been the horn I bought. Not sure I want to sound like a F-450 rolling coal anyways.

 

[Polar]

Forgot to add - confirmed polarity of the horn wiring - green is positive. The receptacle of the horn is labeled

 

[MXA121]

A Mod I can safely say I will never do.

Thanks to you brave owners willing to post videos with decibel readings.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Sounds good! It's louder now, you've doubled the sound pressure, but that doesn't mean it sounds twice as loud. Our perception of sound is not linear. That's why decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale. Both horns are in the 110 decibel range, both together will be 113 decibels, because math. That sound meter probably won't show much difference...We perceive 10 decibel changes as a doubling of volume. As you say, it's the dual tone that makes the sound stand out, particularly in environments with high ambient noise, aka the highway.

As for sounding like a Subaru, I tried to swap in a 330 Hz horn instead of the 500 to create a lower, trucklike tone. I liked it less, might have just been the horn I bought. Not sure I want to sound like a F-450 rolling coal anyways.

I’ve said this before… it’s not about being louder (though it may sound that way to the human ear). It’s about emitting a sound that stands out from din of road/wind noise and machinery, so other drivers have a easier time noticing the audio warning. If 500 is too high pitched, try something around 400.

 

[Nuclianba]

I’ve said this before… it’s not about being louder (though it may sound that way to the human ear). It’s about emitting a sound that stands out from din of road/wind noise and machinery, so other drivers have a easier time noticing the audio warning. If 500 is too high pitched, try something around 400.

I don't think that will do anything....The stock horn is 400ish Hz. Adding another at 400Hz likely won't help. You need a second tone either above or below it.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I don't think that will do anything....The stock horn is 400ish Hz. Adding another at 400Hz likely won't help. You need a second tone either above or below it.

You’re sure stock is 400? By tone alone I think it’s around 300. Personally, the sharp tone of 500 doesn’t bother me. Point of wanting better sound output is about being noticed, like a ref’s whistle. Not to serenade.

 

[Nuclianba]

You’re sure stock is 400? By tone alone I think it’s around 300. Personally, the sharp tone of 500 doesn’t bother me. Priority is about being noticed. Not to serenade.

Pretty sure. I recorded the horn and then ran a fourier transform to get the frequency response:

Peak is at 380Hz, I've been rounding up to 400

And agreed, I like the 500 high tone better, it just sounded more piercing aka safer

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