Magnetic Compass Adjustment

MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT
Order of Placing Correctors
• 1a: Flinders Bar

• Will produce a, e, and k rods
• 1b: Spheres
• Will compensate for a and e rod, but also create k rod
• 2a: Heeling Magnets
• Will compensate for R, k and e2 but will induce a field in the Flinders
Bar (P)
• 2b: Horizontal Magnets
• In any order but generally to correct larger of P and Q.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT: ANALYSIS
METHOD
Analysis Method
• Head ship E or W and place a length of Flinders bar to

correct for an estimated induced coefficient B of
approximately 3°-4°
• Place the spheres at mid position on the bracket arms
• Swing the ship through 360° and find the deviations on
the cardinal and intercardinal headings.
• Analyse the coefficients
• On a well-placed compass the following will be analysed
coefficients:
•B
•C
•D
Analysis Method
• Head ship at any of the intercardinal headings and

adjust the spheres to correct the D coefficient
• When +D: move spheres forward
• When -D: moves spheres outward
• Head ship E or W and correct heeling error using the
vertical force instrument by placing permanent magnets
in the heeling error bucket placed below the compass
• Head ship E or W and correct coefficient B by placing
fore and aft permanent magnets in the ship's binnacle
Analysis Method
• Head ship N or S and correct coefficient C by

placing athwartship permanent in the binnacle
• Swing the ship slowly over 360° and observe
the residual deviations on the cardinal and
intercardinal points
• Draw up the deviation card
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT: TENTATIVE
METHOD
Tentative Method
• The following method of adjustment may be used in a

ship at least a year old and in which the magnetism has
become fairly stable.
• It may be used on normal routine swings when the
investigation is in fact an adjustment to the original
compensation as described in the Analysis Method.
• Care should be exercised in case a vessel has undergone
serious structural alterations or suffered considerable
damage as a result of a grounding or collision.
• In such cases the Analysis Method should be used.
Tentative Method
• The Tentative Method permits certain liberties to be

taken with regard to the order of placing the correctors
and the amount they correct.
• It assumes that the original or last compensation was
properly carried out and that the present deviations to
be adjusted for are not large.
• In this method the coefficients are not calculated but
the deviations on various headings are removed or
nearly removed instead.
• A well placed compass is assumed, and the compass is
taken to be free from mechanical defects.
• The steps to take are as follows…
Tentative Method
• A: The Flinders bar and spheres should be checked for

permanent magnetism.
• B: When there is a slight swell running, head ship
approximately N or S by compass. When the compass
card starts oscillating when the ship rolls, steady the
compass card by lowering down or raising up the
heeling error bucket.
• C: The ship is then steadied on E or W by compass and
the deviation removed by adjusting the fore and aft
magnets.
• D: The ship is headed N or S by compass and the
deviation removed by adjusting the athwartship
magnets.
Tentative Method
• E: The ship is now headed on any quadrantal point by

compass and the deviation removed by adjusting the
position of the spheres.
• F: The last adjustment may influence the adjustment in
the d-rod and e-rod so that the ship is now headed on
the opposite direction to that in C above. Half the
observed deviation is removed with the fore and aft
magnets.
• G: The ship is steadied likewise on the opposite heading
to that in D above. Half the observed deviation is
removed with the athwartships magnets.
Tentative Method
• H: The adjustment made in F and G may influence the

adjustment made in E above so that the ship is now
steadied on a quadrantal point and half the deviation
removed by adjusting the setting of the spheres.
• I: Swing the ship slowly and observe the deviations on
the cardinal and intercardinal points.
• J: Draw up the deviation card.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT:
PRECAUTIONS TO BE
OBSERVED
Precautions to be Observed
• The following precautions are to be taken before adjustment:

• Remove any bubbles in compass bowl:
• Compass fluid may be added by means of filling plug on the side of the
compass bowl.
• If an appreciable amount of compass fluid has leaked out a careful check
should be made on the condition of the sealing gasket and filling plug.
• Test for moment and sensibility (friction) of compass needles:
• The compass should be removed from the ship and taken to some place
free from all magnetic influences except the earth's magnetic field for tests
of moment and sensibility.
• These tests involve measurements of the time of vibration and the ability
of the compass card to return to a consistent reading after deflection.
• Remove any slack in the gimbal arrangements.

• Magnetisation check of spheres and Flinders bars: A careful check should be
made on the spheres and Flinders bars for residual magnetism.
• Move the spheres as close to the compass as possible and slowly rotate each
sphere separately.
• Any appreciable deflection (2° or more) of the compass needles resulting from
this rotation indicates residual magnetism in the spheres.
• To check for residual magnetism in the Flinders bars note the compass reading
with the Flinders bars in the holder.
• Invert the flinders bars in the holder and again note the reading.
• Any appreciable difference (2° or more) between these observed readings
indicates residual magnetism in the Flinders bars.
• Spheres and Flinders bars that show signs of residual magnetism should be
annealed- heated to a dull red and allowed to cool slowly.
• Alignment of compass with fore-and-aft line of the ship:

• Correct alignment of the lubber's line of the compass and gyro repeaters with
the fore-and-aft line of the ship is of major importance.
• Such a misalignment will produce a constant A error in the curve of deviations.
• Standard compasses should always be aligned so that the lubber's line of the
compass is parallel to the fore-and-aft line of the ship.
• Alignment of magnets in binnacle:

• Alignment of heeling magnets tube under pivot point of compass.
• See that corrector magnets are available.
• Derricks and cranes in the sea-going position .
• Vessel to be upright.
• No ships within three cables since they may cause magnetic effects sufficient
to upset the adjustment.
• No loose metal in the vicinity of the compass.

Magnetic Compass Adjustment

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MAGNETIC COMPASS

• 1a: Flinders Bar

• Head ship E or W and place a length of Flinders bar to

• Head ship at any of the intercardinal headings and

• Head ship N or S and correct coefficient C by

• The following method of adjustment may be used in a

• The Tentative Method permits certain liberties to be

• A: The Flinders bar and spheres should be checked for

• E: The ship is now headed on any quadrantal point by

• H: The adjustment made in F and G may influence the

• The following precautions are to be taken before adjustment:

• Remove any slack in the gimbal arrangements.

• Alignment of compass with fore-and-aft line of the ship:

• Alignment of magnets in binnacle:

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