Compasses in Pajeros

Probably to the metal in the vehicle if it's a magnetic compas :-)

I know that's what stops mine working correctly, have to walk away from the vehicle to get correct due north etc.

Maîneÿ . . .

in car compass search in bing.

just did a quick web search and found a few suppliers.

Hope this helps

Hi Vagrant,

Your car is a big steel box - no magnetic compass (even a fluxgate compass) will work even close to accurately without a whole heap of correcting magnets around the compass. The electrical currents are only a small part of the problem unless you put it on top of a main power cable. Nearby speakers are also a big issue because of their magnets.

A lot of work goes into this in ships. In a ship's magnetic compass binnacle the iron spheres either side, the Flinders bar (at the back where you can't see it in the picture below) and an array of magnets inside the case correct the compass card from the influence of the metal of the hull, machinery and super structure.


Even after all this there will still be a deviation card on the bridge to correct the compass reading depending on which direction the ship is pointing relative to magnetic north:


That is somewhat idealised as the curve is not normally that neat but the 6º deviation is not unusual for a corrected compass. And that 6º off track means evey kilometre you travel you will be about another 105 metres off your intended track.

See here for more info than you probably want:
Explanation of deviation

This is why most large ships these days use gyro compasses.

If you want an accurate steering compass a GPSS with the compass screen displayed is your best bet while moving. Explorer does a good one:


If you want a direction while stopped, grab your hand held compass and walk 5 to 10 meters away from your car.

Cheers

Pete

When mobile and for a while after stopping the GPS is quite accurate for the direction out the front. You can works the others out from it. Don't know how long it retains such accuracy. I have never had to use it. Ours is one of the VMS in dash units.

What about the GPS?

Best of luck with the in-car search. All that metal and electronics is hard to get around.

Phil

Go to a 4wd wreckers and grab one of the factory fitted ones out of a higher spec Paj. They actually work fairly well.

Pat

The NT Pajero has instructions to recalibrate the compass, in the owners manual, have you tried that in the NP

Myles