13
COMPASS
FOR COMNAV FLUX-GATE COMPASS
z The compass MUST be mounted
as close as practical to the vessels centre
of pitch and roll. This is typically low in the
vessel, at about the waterline, and slightly
aft of the centre of the vessel.
z You must keep the compass at
least three feet away from engines,
electric motors, and other magnetic
objects. If this is not possible, their effects
may be compensated for as described in
the SEA TRIALS section of this manual.
z To reduce or eliminate the effect of
the vessels vertical field, a HEELING
ADJUST control is provided on the
ComNav Fluxgate Compass, (although
the sensitivity to the earth’s vertical
magnetic field remains.)
z Because of the sensitivity of the
fluxgate compass to the earth's vertical
magnetic fields, it is NOT recommended
for use at latitudes higher than 50
degrees (North or South).
z Use the HEELING ADJUST
control on the compass to eliminate the
effect of the vessel's vertical magnetic
field as described in the SEA TRIALS
section of this manual. The HEELING
ADJUST control is turned OFF when it is
in the centre of its travel.
z Plug the end of the cable into the
compass receptacle on the rear of the
autopilot. If the length of cable supplied
with the compass is not adequate, obtain
an extra plug-in length from your dealer.
Cutting and splicing the compass cable is
NOT recommended.
FOR OTHER FLUXGATE COMPASSES
z The autopilot can be used with a
Fluxgate Compass which outputs DC
Sine and Cosine signals of up to +/- 3
volts amplitude about a 0 to 6 VDC
reference.
z If the compass does not have a
HEELING ADJUST control (i.e. other
makes of fluxgate compasses), it should
NOT be used on steel vessels either.
z The interface has been tested with
Fluxgate Compasses manufactured by
KVH, Brookes and Gatehouse, and VDO.
Some of these compasses have to be
specially ordered in order to have the
required DC Sine and Cosine outputs.
z The autopilot has been supplied
with a 10 ft cable which is plugged into
the Compass receptacle on the rear of
the autopilot. The other end of the cable
is terminated in flying leads. See 0 for
colour & function of each lead.
z +12 Volts will appear on the wire
connected to Plug Pin 7 when the
autopilot is turned on. Up to 100 milliamps
can be supplied by this wire to power the
fluxgate compass.
z If the compass is separately
powered, the tinned ends should be cut
off of the wires connected to Plug Pins 7
& 4. The wires should then be taped back
against the cable to prevent accidentally
shorting out the +12V power supply inside
the autopilot.
Any other unused wires should also have
their tinned leads cut off and be taped
back against the cable.
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