Calibrating compass

[BlueChip]

I have just fitted a raymarine radar and added a raymarine pathfinder smart heading system which provides a high speed heading NMEA output for the radar MARPA function
Over the weekend I was trying to calibrate it by doing a couple of 360's as per the manual
All looked to be ok except that I kept getting ' turning too fast' messages when I reached approx the same heading. I tried at least a dozen times but no matter how slowly I turned I always got the same message, another strange thing - there is a moving bar that is supposed to scroll across as the calibration proceeds and this didn't do anything
I suppose the compass may be faulty, but does anyone else have any ideas what could be wrong here?

 

[Rowana]

Just a thought -

Did you try turning the other way?

 

[BlueChip]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought -

Did you try turning the other way?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes i tried that as well

 

[hightech]

Is the compass showing up on the radar?? If it is, other than offset or deviation, does it follow as you turn the boat through 360.

Assuming you have ruled out all the connections and mounting it the wrong way etc . If it stops for about 120 degrees then starts up or does not follow at all, then suspect the compas is at fault. Even if you cannot calibrate it, it should follow.

When you next try to calibrate, rather than going slower, just make a bigger circle! Rate of turn will come down whilst still maintaining headway.

Hightech.

Hightech.

 

[boatmike]

Yes. You realy do have to go very slowly so a large circle with the engine running at minimum revs is called for. You also need to keep the rate of turn fairly even. If you complete a 360 in less than about 2 minutes you are going too fast...

 

[jjj]

Is the flugate compass mounted so there is no chance of interference from other electrical sources? have you checked that the Gyro plus unit LED lights are functioning properly during normal operation, they are represented by a red and green color and indicated a fault either with the compass or the Gyro plus 2 unit. If there is a FAULT with the compass Red LED will be flashing if there is a FAULT with the Gyro plus 2 Green LED with be flashing. Hope this helps to track down the problem.

 

[BlueChip]

Thanks for all the replies
It turns out that there is a software/hardware? bug in the radar in that once the turning too fast message has been received then the radar must be rebooted before calibration can be done again. If its not rebooted then the message will always reoccur.