Can a compass be fixed? It points south...

[sixbennetts]

Bought a compensated vehicle compass on Ebay. It has the n-s and e-w screws to adjust it on the bottom. Tried adjusting it both inside and outside the truck and I can get it to swing a little in both directions, but it's still 180° off, and points south instead of north.

Junk, or fixable?

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

A compass only ever points north, unless there's a magnetic disturbance. Post some pictures there may be some internal stuff that could be damaged/sticking.

 

[Adventure IQ]

+1. Although I had a batch come in once that had the north and south paint on the needle backwards! Came from a recognizable brand..... They had no problem replacing them.....

 

[Adventure IQ]

Wait.... How are you looking at it? Send pics

 

[Lynn]

On magnetic compasses, the polarization can switch if stored close to other compases or magnets. In my physics classroom I have a bunch of compasses that point South, due to the previous teacher storing them in the 'electromagnetics' cabinet along with a bunch of magnets...

I've only encountered this on cheap compasses, so haven't looked into trying to 'fix' it.

Addited: a quick google turned up this thread, where the guy talks about fixing a magnetic compass.

 

[sixbennetts]

Here's the compass. Got it cheap on E*bay, (now I know why). We're trying to build our Tgb11 camper as cheap as possible (fighting terminal cancer sucks!) so I buy cheap used when I can.

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

That looks like it came of an old boat or plane. Amazon has a compass from the same company for $7.99 but it gets poor reviews. If you want it for navigation I would get a better quality one. That being said here's a write up I found on trails.com that may help you accomplish what your looking for. Make sure that if you are going to keep it to have it in its final position while adjusting it. Good Luck, God Bless and sorry to hear about the cancer.

http://www.trails.com/how_41345_airguide-compass-directions.html

 

[goodtimes]

Are you reading it from the top down - or from the side?

That style of compass should be read from the side - so if you have it on the dash and you read "N" - then you are headed north (even though the letter "N" is actually pointed south).

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Are you reading it from the top down - or from the side?

That style of compass should be read from the side - so if you have it on the dash and you read "N" - then you are headed north (even though the letter "N" is actually pointed south).

This. Most boat compasses have a 1/2 shield over the top, and all you can see is the front 1/2, even when looked at from above.

That said, I have seen some lower end dash compasses go whacky.

 

[thedjjack]

if it points south I would just follow it

 

[Lynn]

if it points south I would just follow it

It is that time of year.

 

[sixbennetts]

Yeah, it is that kind. Funny thing is, until I took those pics, I didn't see the lubber line! Now that I found it, I know what kind it is, and I'll use it accordingly. I WAS gonna mount it in such a way that we look down on it, but I think I'll mount it higher on the dash after I repaint the line.

Thanks all.

 

[Adventure IQ]

Higher on dash or window gets away from metal anyway....the tuning screws will take out the rest of the variance

 

[sixbennetts]

Yupper, that is the plan. Good advice from everybody. Now I have to drill it for a 24 volt light and make a mounting bracket for it. Repaint it and polish the dome, too.

(The fluffy white rain of which we do not speak of aloud is coming, so maybe we will just head south!)

 

[Bergum]

Remember to twist the cable for the light, or it will affect the compass.

B4x4.no