By EasyHow

How to check the compass

Despite the abundance and availability of modern navigation devices, the good old compass will not soon be extinct. And this is understandable. It's cheap, easy to handle and is little dependent on external conditions. But even the most reliable compass should be checked periodically, especially if you are going on a long journey.

How to check the compass
How to determine the pole of the magnet
How to determine cardinal directions in a compass
How to determine the azimuth compass

You will need

- compass;
a small iron object.

Instruction

There are three fundamentally different types of compass: magnetic, electronic and gyro. The first interacts with earth's magnetic field, the second — with the satellites, and the third oriented to the geographic North pole. Tourists and orienteering often use different modifications of the magnetic compass. When checking determine whether the demagnetized arrow. Different magnetic compasses and it is marked differently. Directed to the North arrow can be painted in blue color, marked with a dot, ends with the edge. For fixing it, there is a special lever. He is in arrow and is in order to be able to press the arrow to the glass.

Put the compass on a horizontal surface. If the arrow has been recorded, release the lever. To Orient it in the direction of "North-South" in this case is not necessary. Just give the arrow to stop and notice the division on the limb.

Move the compass to the iron object, then remove it. This should be done very quickly, but object should not be large. Perfect nail. Compass not touch, let the arrow a little shake and again it will freeze. Pay attention to the division. If the arrow is initial position — everything fine, the compass works as it should. If it is deviated, it is better to replace the device.

Note

The compass test is required before each exit on the route.

Useful advice

In the field need after work with a compass to fix the arrow to the lever, and then remove the device in his pocket. If you leave the arrow to spin freely, a compass will quickly break. Try not to store it together with keys and other metallic or magnetized objects. This same rule you follow at home. Nails, screwdrivers and pliers — not the most suitable neighbors for such a device, as well as working speakers. But to store it on a bookshelf or near a collection of stones. Of course, if among the exhibits of your collection is not, for example, of iron pyrites.

Determining the direction, note that there were no power lines. Don't forget that this is a magnetic device and that the accuracy of his greatly are metal objects. If you come to mind to define a direction standing on train tracks, don't be surprised that the readings will be inaccurate.

Find a large-scale map of the area where you are going. To navigate by compass and the map is much easier than just the compass.