User manual VDO COMPASS

[. . . ] Disconnect the minus polarity of the battery before starting your work to prevent the risk of a short-circuit. Short-circuits can cause harness fires, battery explosions and damages of other electronic memory systems. Please note that all volatile electronic memories will lose their contents, and will have to be re-programmed if you disconnect the battery. Run the engine blower for a certain time before starting work in a gasoline engine compartment. [. . . ] Each deviation from the desired course is indicated by the analog pointer (3° port in this case). 29 COMPENSATION Automatic compensation of the VDO Compass All on-board iron masses of a ship are more or less magnetic and influence the compass. This effect must be compensated in a fluid compass as well as in a fluxgate compass. On conventional fluid compasses this requires the services of a qualified specialist. On the VDO Compass with its automatic deviation compensation you can easily and reliably perform this adjustment yourself. As supplied the VDO Compass behaves like a normal, non-compensated fluid compass. Perform the automatic compensation during a circular course with calm sea, at a sufficient distance to port installations and magnetic disturbances (such as steel bridges, sheet piling, other ships). The diameter of the circle should be five or six times the ship length, the speed adapted to complete one circle in about 3 minutes. No valid course is indicated by the instrument during the compensation. Perform the compensation as follows: Start the circular course and switch the power supply on while keeping the button pushed. The display indicates , , OFFSET". OFFSET Relase the button when , , OFFSET" is displayed. After some seconds the local compass deviation is indicated (setting see page 32). OS 000 After another 5 seconds the display automatically changes to , , CAL". The pointer moves to the , , CAL" position. CAL Push the button CAL 1 (Note: you have about 5 seconds to start the "CAL" function, as this function is automatically exited after this time. ) 30 COMPENSATION The automatic compensation runs. Continue the circular route until the display indicates " --- ". --Now start another circular route in the opposite sense. Push the button until the display indicates , , CAL2". CAL 2 Continue the circular route until the compensation is automatically ended. After successful compensation the desired course is indicated (267° or 270° in the example). 267 or s 270 For your own safety you should verify the indication by several true observations on various courses (north, east, south, west). Differences between compass indication and true observation must be corrected by adjustment of the compass sensor position (see page 33). The display shows , , FAIL" in the case of a failure of the automatic compass compensation, or if the compass compensation could not be finished. FAIL In this case exit the failed compensation by switching the power supply off. The pointer returns to its normal operating mode when the power is switched on again. The following factors may cause a failure of the automatic compensation: Excessive speed during the automatic compensation Inadequate installation of the sensor (see page 36) Mobile phones or radiophones were used during the compensation Influence of magnetic disturbances (bridges, pile walls, etc. ) or magnetic objects near the sensor. 31 POSITION-DEPENDENT VARIATION The automatic compensation should be repeated after compass installation, after slipping, prior to long routes, after welding operations, after the installation of electrical consumers, but at least once a year. Please also note the , , semihard magnetism" effect on steel ships, which appears when the ship has been exposed to the terrestrial magnetic field without position change for a long time (for instance during winter). This means that after watering a ship the compass compensation should be repeated several days later. Setting of the position-dependent variation This operation is necessary to set the valid local variation. [. . . ] Mark the location of the sensor with the supplied warning label. View from above: Marking bar ship axis bow Max. The sensor must be installed on a horizontal surface in horizontal position. The marking bar must be parallel to the ship axis, directed to the bow. The automatic compensation must be repeated after changing the cargo. 37 INSTALLATION Electrical Installation System power supply Connecting cable Compass sensor - indicator 8 4 3 2 5 1 Illumination S2 F2 S1 F1 Legend of the circuit schematic page 20 38 + INSTALLATION Connection of a secondary indicating instrument Install the power supply to the second instrument in the same way as for the first one (see page 38). [. . . ]