ComNav Commander P2 & P2VS Installation & Operation Setting Up
Document PN 29010074 V4.1 - 98 -
Compass Setup – On the Water
The final steps of compass setup should normally be performed after all other installation and
setup procedures for the autopilot system are completed, so that all net electrical and
magnetic effects of the installation on the compass(es) are taken into account.
First you must compensate the compass(es) for Magnetic Deviation
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. Then, you may need
to calibrate each compass (i.e., correct for any inherent constant directional offset in each).
You will need to take your boat away from the dock, and out onto a body of open water (the
sea, a lake, a river, etc.), and in relatively calm conditions.
It is important that there be sufficient sea room to put the boat through a series of fairly slow
& wide circle turns, and to run the boat for several minutes on a straight Track at various
Headings, without encountering obstacles, other marine traffic, etc. You should also avoid
areas around bridges, underwater power lines, and pipelines, as these can affect your
compass(es).
Caution! Be sure to keep a proper lookout for other boats, and any hazards,
while doing any of the circle turns & manoeuvres described below.
Note: some of the steps performed here require that you be familiar with the
STANDBY mode & menu of the autopilot (see page 110).
During all these procedures, the INVALID HEADING alarm may occur. You can
cancel it (press the
F
F
n
n
button), or leave it active.
Compensation for Magnetic Deviation
The procedure you will follow to compensate your compass(es) depends on the type(s) of
compasses you have installed.
Some elements of all the procedures are the same:
•
You can take as long as you like to start the turns required to compensate any of the
compasses requiring it, but once the SPU detects that you have you have started the
turns, you have ~6 minutes to complete enough turns, before a “Failed …” screen
appears.
•
You may choose to do the turns either to Port or to Starboard. It doesn't matter
which way, as long as you do not reverse direction during the compensation step.
Boat speed matters only in that it should be sufficient to hold a constant rate of turn
of about 2 to 3 degrees per second, meaning that the full circle should take between
3 & 2 minutes. As well, it should be sufficient that you can steer smooth, steady turns
in the current sea conditions.
Magnetic Compass Sensor
ComNav strongly recommends that a professional compass adjuster compensate Magnetic
Compasses.
The Sensor itself does not require compensation, only calibration.
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In the P Series, Magnetic Deviation compensation of Fluxgate Compasses (with or without HRS), and of the
45° Compass Transducer, only corrects for Hard-Iron effects. Soft-Iron effects are not corrected for.
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