compass dilemma

hiwa

hiwa

Joined
Jun 7, 2009
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I bought a new compass today ( Suunto). It's red needle end points to north:thumbup:
I also have this Brunton compass (on left) where the white end of the needle points to north ! This compass had a hole drilled in the bottom to let the fluid out.:confused: I am wondering why the Brunton needle is 180 deg. compared to the brand new Suunto. Do any of you fellas have an idea why ? I don't want to throw it out if I don't have to.
Thanks for any answers.( sorry for the fuzzy pic.)

bikeandnaturewalk006.jpg
 
nothing wrong with your compasses my friend. some companies use white, some use red for north. my Brunton has white for north too, while my suunto forestry compass use red for north
 
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Bushman5 said:
nothing wrong with your compasses my friend. some companies use white, some use red for north.
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Thanks B5. That was one conclusion I was considering, but wasn't sure. Both units needles are lined up N/S.
 
It's probably white points north, shine a light on it and see if the white is phosphorescent.

The other possibility that's been discussed here is that contact with a magnet can cause the poles to reverse 180 and passing a magnet a second time will return the needle to it's original orientation.
 
Bushman5 said:
nothing wrong with your compasses my friend. some companies use white, some use red for north. my Brunton has white for north too, while my suunto forestry compass use red for north
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Thats weird. I have never seen white for north. Not even on my Bruntons. Huh? pretty strange, but if is consistant, you could still shoot an Azimuth.

Looking at the compass again, it could be the photo, but it looks a degree or 2 off, also, the north direction lines on the dial, are red, which makes me think something is wrong with that compass...also, with no liquid in it, it might not like the vibrations of walking very much. I have a Suuntu that I really like, its needle fell off the pin yesterday, while using it, I got it back on the pin, but I just couldnt trust it, so I went to another Silva that I had in the pack...just to be sure.
 
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I've had two Silvas over the years spontaneously change poles (north/red points south), this is a bit scary, you wouldn't want this to happen when your life was depending on it. This is why I won't use Silvas any more for work or play, I won't buy them anymore for my workers, and I won't recommend them to anyone. Suunto is really the best out there in my opinion (my favourite being the MC2-G model).

I do own at least one compass with a white north pointing needle (Brunton Pocket Transit), but I've never seen a compass with a red coloured south pointing needle; if the white end is north, then the south end is black. If your compass has a red/and white needle, the red end should be pointing north.

I am not sure what the warranty is like these days but I would be surprised if Brunton didn't replace this for you, although having drained the fluid with a drill hole may have voided your warranty (it must be fluid filled to work properly). Any idea why the hole was drilled in the first place? In the mean-time, stick to the Suunto and shelve/return/bin the Brunton.
 
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mckrob said:
I've had two Silvas over the years spontaneously change poles (north/red points south), this is a bit scary, you wouldn't want this to happen when your life was depending on it. This is why I won't use Silvas any more for work or play, I won't buy them anymore for my workers, and I won't recommend them to anyone. Suunto is really the best out there in my opinion (my favourite being the MC2-G model).

I do own at least one compass with a white north pointing needle (Brunton Pocket Transit), but I've never seen a compass with a red coloured south pointing needle; if the white end is north, then the south end is black. If your compass has a red/and white needle, the red end should be pointing north.

I am not sure what the warranty is like these days but I would be surprised if Brunton didn't replace this for you, although having drained the fluid with a drill hole may have voided your warranty (it must be fluid filled to work properly). Any idea why the hole was drilled in the first place? In the mean-time, stick to the Suunto and shelve/return/bin the Brunton.
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The hole was drilled to alleviate a sticky needle. I will put it the junk drawer, and rely on the new Suunto. That's my second one ( the others a keychain/thermometer one) and they point very true.
 
Call Brunton and ask them. They should have a toll free number. I am fairly sure the warranty would be voided by the hole drilling, probably because a bubble formed in there. I have had a 40+ year old Silva Ranger with a bubble in it for at least the last 35 years and it still works fine although the bubble is annoying.
I also have a Brunton equivalent to the Silva Ranger and it has the red needle for north.
Always in my backpack. No batteries required like my GPS.
 
remember silva=brunton, owned by fiskers. Suunto is independent. just so people have it in mind.
I wonder if/why some compasses are more susceptible to flipping?
 
Most Bruntons are cheap made from China. I have not bought any new ones from them.

Suunto's have a good reputation.
My fav isn't available in N.A. and has to be shipped in from the U.K. (Silva 40H)

If you can stand a little heavier one check into a Tru-Nord. I think they are about the best made compass there is.
 
The Brunton one is stuffed ( broken) the polarity of the needle has been reversed. Often that means it has been stored near or with another magnetic device or electrical source. I don't understand the science of it but they can also be reversed by swinging them by the lanyard for extended periods ( I have worked in camping retail for eight years and have had a few come back and according to our Silva supplier it does happen )
Silva (I understand Brunton and Silva are the same beast in the US) compasses have a year code on the back of the bezel ( you can see it if you turn the compass upside down) and I think it is a five year warranty from that date I don't remember the date code system though)
The fluid is to slow down the movement of the needle ( dampen) Silva and Sunnto use a very fine oil.
Recta uses alcohol.
Bubbles are bad because they will effect the free flow of the needle. If your compass works on a disk instead of a needle it can actually stop the disk from turning.
I have used Silva compass mainly ( only because they were more prevalent here in OZ) but have brought Sunntos when the price was right
Carl
 
I took my southern hemisphere compass to Canada with me and it worked fine.
I've never heard of the white end intentionally being made to point north.

When doing a navigation course, I was told leaving a compass in the glovebox of your car, or surrounded by metal objects could screw it up

I think a compass is one of those essential things that you don't want to take chances on. I'd call the company.
 
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