[DG] Making my magnetic compass work again (EV-100 Wheel)

[Derek - Raymarine - Moderator]

Hi Dyhrberg,
Thankyou for your enquiry below.

Although you have not mentioned it, have you mounted the drive with the motor in the upper position closer to the compass and therefore triggering excess deviation in your compass?

If yes . . . we have often found that the deviation caused by the permanent magnets in the motor is a constant value and a compass adjuster can compensate for the deviation caused - this will enable the compass to function normally

If you find that the deviation changes, for example, when operating the autopilot drive the compass card swings erratically, then the only way to solve this is to relocate the autopilot drive motor.

Whilst it is possible to create an additional slot in the backplate of the drive unit, the existing slots are reinforced and the new slot would not be and so could be liable to stress cracking, this is not something we would either support or warranty.
The preferred solution would be to have a local machine shop make a custom torque restraint pin offset to enable the motor to clear the side of the pedestal.

there are a wide range of pedestal designs which also change over the years, the location of the existing reinforced slots have been chosen based on wide experience and are appropriate for the vast majority of customers, there will however always be the occasional exception, which will require some local adjustment.
Thanks