Compass Calibration

[OneTwoSierra]

I'm confused about how to calibrate the compass (external magnetometer) on thew D10A with the latest software. Will someone post the proper procedures and menu selections, please. Can it be done on the ground with a compass rose? I've adjusted it with the +/-, but it seems to be off at some headings. Is there a software calibration procedure? How?

Thanks,

 

[dynonsupport]

The compass calibration procedure is in the installation guide. The latest installation guide is always availible on our website.

Here's a link. The external compass calibration is on page 21:

http://www.dynonavionics.com/downloads/100341%20-%20Rev%20B%20-%20EFIS-D10A%20Installation%20Guide.pdf

The +/- is only for fine tuning after calibration.

Calibration for an external compass (like yours) can be done on the ground on a compass rose or with a GPS. Internal compass calibration requires you to do both ground and in-flight manuvers.

 

[OneTwoSierra]

For the external magetometer setup, when the document says 'align the airplane pointing North', does it mean Magnetic North or True North? (Page 21 at the very bottom). I'll be using a GPS, but it has settings for displaying either Magnetic or True.

Thanks again,

 

[dynonsupport]

You should align the airplane with magnetic north. All indications on the EFIS are relative to magnetic North as 0 degrees. Because the difference between geographic north and magnetic north (declination angle) varies widely over relatively small distances, the EFIS does not allow you input a declination angle to show heading relative to geographic north.

 

[Impulse]

What cables do I need to connect my laptop to the DFIS-D10 for compass calibration?

 

[dynonsupport]

If you have a D10A and the latest firmware, you no longer need a laptop to calibrate as it is all done in the EFIS.

If you have a D10, then it matters how you wired up the serial port on the EFIS. There are three wires called out in the installation guide. Ground, transmit and recieve. These need to end up hooked to the PC somehow. Our recomendation is to run these three wires to a DB9 connector somewhere in the aircraft. Then you would use a DB9-DB9 straight cable to connect to the serial port on your PC. If you don't have a serial port on the PC, you'll need to get a USB-Serial adapter. You can get these at most electonics stores and Radio Shack.

 

[Impulse]

Thanks, I have the D10. I'll be calling you once I get ready to calibrate the compass.

BJ

If you have a D10A and the latest firmware, you no longer need a laptop to calibrate as it is all done in the EFIS.

If you have a D10, then it matters how you wired up the serial port on the EFIS. There are three wires called out in the installation guide. Ground, transmit and recieve. These need to end up hooked to the PC somehow. Our recomendation is to run these three wires to a DB9 connector somewhere in the aircraft. Then you would use a DB9-DB9 straight cable to connect to the serial port on your PC. If you don't have a serial port on the PC, you'll need to get a USB-Serial adapter. You can get these at most electonics stores and Radio Shack.

 

[vic syracuse(Guest)]

I have the Dynon D-10A with the external compass module, and it seems to calibrate properly on all headings except west. I go through the on ground calibration, it caculates the values, and yet it reads accurately on N, S, & E, but on West it reads 255 degrees instead of 270. I have the external module suspended from a fuselage bulkhead behind the baggage compartment. The Chelton AHRS is in the same area, and seems to calibrate OK. Any thoughts? Do I need to move the module or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks
Vic

 

[dynonsupport]

Here are a few things to try:

Take a conventional "boy scout" compass and take some measurements near your remote compass. Does it read correctly all the way around or is it also signifigantly off in that one direction? If it is off, the EDC won't be able to do much better.

Ensure sure that the magnetic inclination value has been properly set per the install guide. This number is used in the compass calibration computations.

Also, have you done the calibration multiple times and ended up with the same results?