Aftermarket Car Compass

[Colleen Devine]

Is there such a thing? I've tried a variety of (I'll admit) cheap compasses that either point North all the time or point every-which-way, but rarely the correct direction.

I enjoy taking The Back Roads and boondoggled my way home on Friday from an appointment...nearly an extra 60 miles out of the way. I saw lots of great countryside!

It was cloudy...:o

Compass help, anyone?

Regards,
Colleen

PS. Oops...my apologies...thought I was in the OT Forum when I posted. John, would you move this thread, please-and-thank-you?!

[Bob Aliano]

Try here:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Search?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&sku=compass&searchbtn.x=6&searchbtn.y=10

[Curt Harms]

Hi Colleen-

I've run into a similar situation, automotive compasses simply aren't accurate. Radio Shacked used to carry a flux gate automotive compass where you could position the sensor away from the dash and its associated electromagnetic interferance. Aircraft use a similar technology with a remote mounted flux valve. Factory installs do not seem to use remote mounted sensors so there must be a way around the local magnetic interference. I did find this site which looked sort of interesting compasses (http://www.autobarn.net/allison.html) Hope this helps.

Curt

[Bob Aliano]

The compass in my wife's 300M automatically compensates for the car's magnetic field. The Wayfinder compasses claim to do the same. I use my GPS receiver when I need a compass in the truck, no magnetic field concerns.