suunto compass question

[troutfisher13111]

This question is out of pure ignorance, but i just got a suunto compass and was wondering what the tiny little steel tool attatched to the lanyard was for. Can anyone fill me in? Thanks!

 

[MikeJackmin]

Its a little screwdriver for the magnetic declination adjustment. It corrects for the difference between true and magnetic north.

Easiest way to make the adjustment is to find a nice straight road running true north, and simply adjust the compass until it's pointing the right way.

 

[jds1]

Are you talking about the KB-14?

http://ns.suunto.com/Manuals/KB-series/Userguides/KB-series_userguide_multi.pdf

Jeff

 

[KuRUpTD]

Enter your zip code here to find out what your declination is

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp

 

[troutfisher13111]

It's a M3. I have used a compass for years while deer hunting by simply coming out the opposite direction i headed in. I sometimes have to walk the road back to my truck. My goal this year is to learn more advanced and accurate compass skills, hence the reason for buying one with adjustable declination. Thanks again guys!

 

[redpoint]

The declination is posted on every map for any given area. Just adjust for declination using the screwdriver based on what the map says. In some parts of North America if you don't account for declination, the error is quite significant. On some maps the declination may have been calculated a while back [i.e. older map] make sure that you add-on the annual change to get the accurate declination factor [all this info is on the map].

 

[jaymeister99]

Enter your zip code here to find out what your declination is

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp

Forget about the declination on the maps, its not always accurate and often outdated. Go to this site mentioned above.

 

[neeman]

There are three Norths
True North - The place at the top of the world, (which we do not use in map reading)
Magnetic North - Where your compass needle points
Grid North - The grid lines on your map

The magnetic declination adjustment is to get your Grid North in alignment with Magnetic North, so the needle of your compass points the same as the lines on your map.

The problem is Magnetic North shifts a certain amount each year, so you need to know what your your declination is for that year.
Topo maps should show you the declination and the shift per year.
Look at the date of the map and make your calculation, or use the link KuRUpTD posted.

Once you know the declination, you can change your sighted bearing to the map, or Map to bearing. (Terrain to Map, or Map to Terrain)

The little steel tool turns the face of the compass (Magnetic North) to align the compass point to the square of the compass (Grid North), and you do not need to make the calculation each time