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#81926 - 01/02/07 09:09 PM Protecting compass from magnetic fields
drahthaar Offline
Member

Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 111
Can anyone recommend some type of case or wrapping in which I can store my compass in my pack to shield it from all the other batteries, magnets, metals, etc. rattling around in my pack?

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#81927 - 01/02/07 10:17 PM Re: Protecting compass from magnetic fields
JCWohlschlag Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 11/26/06
Posts: 724
Loc: Sterling, Virginia, United Sta...
I'd venture to guess that one of those anti-static bags they use for computer parts would work well. Those bags should form a pretty good Faraday cage around the compass and shield it from any outside electric and/or magnetic fields.
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#81928 - 01/02/07 10:22 PM Re: Protecting compass from magnetic fields
atoz Offline
Member

Registered: 01/25/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Nevada
THe bags that computer components come in are ANTI STATIC. There is very little you can do to protect you compass from magnetic fields.

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#81929 - 01/02/07 10:42 PM Re: Protecting compass from magnetic fields
KenK Offline
"Be Prepared"
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2211
Loc: NE Wisconsin
From what I know the big thing is to keep it away from magnets such as on speakers. Having it stored near iron-containing materials isn't desirable, but I don't think it will damage it much.

Ironically batteries don't seem to have all that much influence on compass. They are "chemical packs" and only influence the compass because of the metal in the container/electrodes.

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#81930 - 01/02/07 10:58 PM Re: Protecting compass from magnetic fields
MarshAviator Offline
Marsh Aviator
Journeyman

Registered: 11/18/05
Posts: 70
Loc: Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Yes, even a faraday cage is protection from the electric field, not the magnetic field. Most modern compasses use either rare earth magnets or some variation of ALNIICO and are fairly unlikely to be demagnetized by common objects at normal temperatures.
Unless you pass by an MRI or a particle accelerator.
There is mu-metal, but I don't see the need. Just package it with normal things, avoid things with very strong magnets (some speakers do in fact have strong magnets, but not headphones)
Brunton Pocket transists have the ability to demagnetize some compasses (ask me how I know).
And some batteries do have magnetic componants and a magnetic field, which while it will NOT demagnetize your compass it can deflect if from the correct reading if it's near when you take a reading.

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