Compass Reversing Polarity

[Lotsafreshair]

There was a moment last weekend when I seriously thought I was going mad... or I was stuck in the Bermuda Triangle of the Wild Dog Mts.

I've written a blog post on what happened here: http://lotsafreshair.com/2012/11/07/pol ... es-go-bad/ and would be interested to hear other people's experiences??

[hikingoz]

That's never happened to me but I'll remember to use it as an excuse next time I bugger up my navigation

[stepbystep]

Hey Lotsa!

There has been some chatter of this before in various places in Tas. I have had it on Hartz Peak, same deal but it swung around and wouldn't 'stick'. But I knew where I was so ignored it.
Next time I checked the compass a week or so later all was well. I also heard a story of this from Lichen Hill on the Tasman Penninsular. Seriously charged dolerite apparently.

In another interesting experience, I was on top of Hill 2, Moonlight Ridge when ILUVSWTAS checked his GPS our altitude was fluctuating by 30-40 metres every second or two!
It was blowing an absolute gale and we put the reason down to the extreme wind. This stayed like this for at least a couple of minutes, that is until he lost his beanie into the valley behind us

[WarrenH]

In the Jagungal Wilderness, in the vicinity of Mount Toolong, which is about 8 km NNW of Mount Jagungal, a compass is notoriously unreliable and at Mount Bogong in the Victorian High Country magnetic interference can also affect a compass.

Warren.

[taswegian]

Never been a big fan of Silva since 2 developed air bubbles.

But one I had did as yours when out working. My solution was to swing it round my head many times by its cord and let go.
That was in the days when everything was on the government's inventory.
I think it got accounted as missing in action.

[Rob A]

Silvas have oil in them?!?
After a couple of flights across the ditch I couldnt see anything to have a bubble in.

Eh ... What brand did you wind up getting to get around the problem?

[north-north-west]

In the Jagungal Wilderness, in the vicinity of Mount Toolong, which is about 8 km NNW of Mount Jagungal, a compass is notoriously unreliable and at Mount Bogong in the Victorian High Country magnetic interference can also affect a compass.

Never had trouble on Bogong, but Jim is notorious for causing compass issues. Last time I was there mine kept spinning slowly anticlockwise.

[Overlandman]

Its a wonder one of the tech heads havnt come up with the answer,

Satellite drop out

[taswegian]

Silvas have oil in them?!?
After a couple of flights across the ditch I couldnt see anything to have a bubble in.

Eh ... What brand did you wind up getting to get around the problem?

Not sure what model back then. Sightmaster is modern equivalent.
We didn't have choice. Government supply.
Just got a new one.

I use their Inclinometers too and they suffer similar issues. Bubbles that is.

[buggeriamold]

Never been a big fan of Silva since 2 developed air bubbles.

Hi,

Generally the bubbles develop due to over heating. If you leave your compass in a car on a hot day (or maybe a tent), the liquid in the Capsule will expand & micro crack the Capsule then you get the bubbles.

After finding this out, I just watch were I leave my compass & havent had a reoccurrence of the "bubble problem".

Mark

[WarrenH]

In the Jagungal Wilderness, in the vicinity of Mount Toolong, which is about 8 km NNW of Mount Jagungal, a compass is notoriously unreliable and at Mount Bogong in the Victorian High Country magnetic interference can also affect a compass.

Never had trouble on Bogong, but Jim is notorious for causing compass issues. Last time I was there mine kept spinning slowly anticlockwise.

Thanks for the correction. I did mean to write, the on Bogong High Plains, at Mount McKay.

Warren.

[Strider]

Never been a big fan of Silva since 2 developed air bubbles.

Hi,

Generally the bubbles develop due to over heating. If you leave your compass in a car on a hot day (or maybe a tent), the liquid in the Capsule will expand & micro crack the Capsule then you get the bubbles.

After finding this out, I just watch were I leave my compass & havent had a reoccurrence of the "bubble problem".

Mark

Not according to Silva...

http://www.silvacompass.com/detail.aspx?id=76#4

[Rob A]

Never left my compass in a hot car or did anything out of the ordinary with it. It might have sat on a map in the sun for as long as it took me to do some maths ...
I think the leaking might have begun as an age related separation thing, but then when it started flying over to kiwi I would notice it was more of a hassle to use each time.
Last I looked, the evil oil was definitely slicking my fingers and the bubble so big the compass was half dry and rendered useless, so its had a meltdown mid Tasman.
New compass time, dont like going without.

[buggeriamold]

Not according to Silva...

http://www.silvacompass.com/detail.aspx?id=76#4

Interesting, one of the Compasses that I had this problem with was replaced under warranty & the info about the heat thing came from them at the same time.

Anyway as I said keeping it out of hot places has worked for me...so far.

Mark

[Strider]

Not according to Silva...

http://www.silvacompass.com/detail.aspx?id=76#4

Interesting, one of the Compasses that I had this problem with was replaced under warranty & the info about the heat thing came from them at the same time.

Anyway as I said keeping it out of hot places has worked for me...so far.

Mark

Mine has a small bubble, but its never affected operation of the compass.