Quick question about 12v parking buzzers

[dimsparks]

Hi, just joined to get the definitive answer to this conundrum.

The parking speaker in my car is really quiet, so I bought a 12v DC buzzer from Maplin to replace it. The Maplin buzzer doesn't work when connected to the car, but works if powered direct fom the battery.
The voltage at the original speaker connector is 9.3v oddly, but the Maplins speaker is rated from 8v to 14v so should be OK?

I spoke to Maplins, they couldn't help, so do any of you chaps have the answer?

 

[telectrix]

if the original speaker is a speaker and not a buzzer, thast's your problem. a buzzer works on circa 12V D.C. VOLTAGE, WHEREAS A SPEAKER WORKS ON AN AUDIO SIGNAL.

 

[dimsparks]

Good point, but the original one is just a flat piezo sounder, not really a speaker. It says 0.5W and 50(?) ohms on the back but I'm not an electrician so does that make it a speaker or a buzzer?

 

[LeeH]

Edit - just read you post correctly.

A buzzer is not a speaker. A buzzer 'buzzies'. A speaker converts signals into audible sounds.

Sounds like you need a bigger speaker and an amplifier. As I presume the speaker you have will be matched to the device you have installed.

 

[dimsparks]

OK, so they are different, as telectrix says....a piezo sounder and a speaker?

 

[dimsparks]

It looks a bit like this, so I suppose it's a speaker not a buzzer.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/025w-mylar-and-paper-round-speaker-29mm-n93fu

 

[dimsparks]

...so in order to make it louder, I need to match the ohm rating, but just look for higher wattage? If the ohm rating was lower would that matter?

 

[dimsparks]

Reckon I've sorted it out....as I thought, I need to keep the ohm rating the same but increase the output wattage. (do I really need to add an amplifier for a parking speaker) Trouble is, finding a suitable sized speaker with the correct ohm rating.
Thanks.