Compass

[Oleanda]

I bought a compass this morning, didn't have time to look at it properly in the shop, but since getting home, where ever I am in the house it points in all directions. Am I being completely stupid here, is there likely to be something in the house that is throwing it off kilter? I don't want to go all the way back to the shop only to be told there is a simple explaination.

[coyn]

Oleanda do you mean that if you keep it perfectly still the needle continues moving?

[Oleanda]

No, it settles in a different place each time. At the moment it is pointing south-west!

[qapmoc]

Hi Oleanda, well assuming your house is not made of metal then it is a bit odd, why don't you go outside away from any structures and try again.

[Oleanda]

Just tried that and its still doing it. The compass only cost �6.99 but surely a compass is a compass.

[coyn]

oleanda, click the link scroll down till you come to a pic of a compass.

Is this the same style as yours? (it doesn't have to be identical, just the same style)

[coyn]

forgot the darn link

http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/FAQ_Best_Compas s.htm

[Oleanda]

Yes is the same style.

[coyn]

Okay oleanda point the compass away from you i.e. at the end away from you is a little arrow (pointing away from you)

Turn the dial so that the static red arrow inside the dial, are in line, now turn your body until the MOVABLE arrow is in line with the other two arrows. When all three are pointing the same way that is North.

If you then turn your body a little you will see that the movable arrow is no longer lined up wit the other two, thats because no matter which way YOU are facing the Movable arrow Always points north.

[Oleanda]

Its still not behaving. I don't mean it is pointing south-west on the dial, but at where I know south west to be. No matter where I point the arrow or turn the dial, the moveable arrow still settles in different places each time. The lady in the shop said a lot of people buy these to Feng Shue (sp) their homes, I hope they have better luck than I'm having.

[coyn]

The only reason that a compass goes haywire is if you are stood on ground that is directly over Lodestone, which I doubt that you are.

I f you are thinking of hiking somewhere even in Englands green and pleasant land or more importantly if your children are, make darn sure you and they know exactly how this works, the moors of Britain are a pretty unforgiving place if you have to spend the night on them if you are unprepared.

Go to the library and get a book on how this works it isn't really complicated but it's difficult to explain here.

Best of luck.

[Oleanda]

Thank you, coyn, for your help. I am not going hiking or anything like, I only want the compass because I am moving home and want to get an idea of which way houses face.

[coyn]

O.K. Oleanda simpler then. Look out of your front window ( if that is the direction you are concerned with)

Point the compass in the direction you wish to know, line up the static arrow inside the dial, turn until the moveable arrow is in line with it.

Then read from the (usually) black outer dial. It will tell you East west south or whatever OR SOMEWHERE in between.

Note where the main compass points are N E S W, if it is pointing at W your front window is facing west.

If it's half way between N and E you are looking North East.

If it's half way between N and W you are facing north west and so on.

[Piper-AK]

It could just be a broken compass....

[SteveD]

Why not just go outside at 12 noon on a sunny day and face the sun? Hold your arms out at right angles to your body; you will be facing south, directly behind you will be north, your left arm will be east and your right arm will be west. I assume that you are in the northern hemisphere.

[CT]

SteveD, good point but, that wont work til the clocks go back. On BST, the sun will be south at 1pm.

[Space]

I have a compass that doesn't work properly when It is close to me. Maybe it's because of something I'm wearing, I don't know.
If I stretch my arm to keep it away from me, then it indicates North properly.

[Oleanda]

Steve D, I know all that but it doesn't help me when I go house hunting on a dull day. I looked at one house a few weeks ago that the estate agent insisted faced west, I found out later that it faced north.
Space, I have tried holding it at arms length and it still doesn't indicate north properly.
Am I being niave here, I always thought the spinning arrow should point north. I only want a rough guide, but south-east is a bit too rough.

[mibn2cweus]

The pointer in a compass can become weak or demagnetized from exposure to a heat or vibration or a degausser, (rapidly alternating magnetic field), or being held for an extended period of time (against its will) in an opposing magnetic field.

[Tim B]

All compasses are subject to ferro-magnetic influences. Typically your wristwatch can throw it out even if it's made of stainless steel. In your house you have all the metal objects around you, draws full of cutlery, kettle, toaster, cast iron fire bits, radiators, your car parked outside. These will all affect the magnetic lines in the house.