D6 Magnetometer install location

[dico]

Hello,

We are installing a D6 EFIS unit in our Lancair IV-P as a backup instrument (along side a G3x EFIS).

We're taking out a Sandel 3308 and replacing it with the new EFIS. I'm looking to locate the magnetometer in the tail of the aircraft as getting to the wing tips is pretty much impossible. The rear of the tail has the 2 garmin 430 antennas as well as the ELT. There is an LED strobe on the tail. Further, there is a small servo for the elevator trim and rudder trim. This is all the electrical items that would be remotely close. The next nearest item would be the autopilot servo for the pitch (Trutrak) located about 3' away. We are also looking to put the garmin magnetometer in the tail but they have a tool to see if its OK to go there.

Wondering if we're OK to put the unit for the D6 EFIS back there too?

Thanks,

Dico

 

[dynonsupport]

So first off - if you end up with a good place per their tool, it'll be a good place for us too. And you can co-located magnetometers. By design, they're designed to not distort magnetic fields.

Beyond that, as long as you can get 1' or more from low power devices, and 2' or more from higher powered devices (ap servos, etc), you should be OK. But the best way to determine that for sure is to try out your proposed location.

One other tip: before installation, of the magnetometer, you can use a "whiskey" compass in the area that you're thinking of to see whether the location is "bad". If the power/ferrous metal in the vicinity causes inaccuracies with the conventional compass, it will affect ours as well.