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Date:         Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:08:41 -0800
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Target Compass
Comments: To: Oxroad@aol.com
In-Reply-To:  <c73.b38d4e7.32ed1211@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

RE: compasses Actually a Vanagon related subject I know something about. Although not familiar with the specific compass you are referring to I'm familiar with the general type, the small flux gate (or electronic) compass. I used to work for a firm here in Seattle that did virtually all the compass adjustment/calibration for virtually every vessel on Puget Sound, and that includes the carrier Abraham Lincoln. Two members of the staff were considered world experts on the compass. I managed to absorb a little information along the line. First, the small flux gate compasses are VERY sensitive to position. There was one model of hand held that we refused to stock it was so prone to error if not held absolutely level. This translates into big errors if not mounted exactly as the manufacturer instructs. Newer models tend to be less sensitive to this problem. They are also much harder to compensate for or adjust in a vehicle. As for the good old fashioned magnetic compass, I have one of these mounted dead center of the cover over my instrument cluster: http://www.thecompassstore.com/51pilot.html and it works perfect. To my pleasant surprise it needed virtually no adjustment when mounted in that location and has been working fine for five years now. Well damped, I've never had the various problems with it that I've encountered over the years with other dash mounted compasses. The compass at Target may well be a great unit but be warned that the small flux gate compasses can be very temperamental. YMMV


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