EV-100

kito · Feb 14, 2016

I bought the same unit but have not installed it yet. Wouldn't you install the ACU-100 and the senor core inside anyway? I don't think the instrument panel needs to be 3 foot from the compass. I installed my instrument panel in an old nav pod which will be about a foot from the compass. Maybe I need to rethink my placement..........

Mark Maulden · Feb 14, 2016

Power it up before you install and move the control unit around the compass and see what happens. I have the prior one probably with the same control unit. Made no difference but i installed in a different place for other reasons. And how close is your compass calibrated? And watch out for your steel belt buckle. Ha! Ya theres a story there...

kito · Feb 15, 2016

Well I'll be darn. That kinda stinks. I want my p70 on the pedestal for easy viewing and access. I am waiting for others to chime in too that have theirs inside 3 feet of the compass. I wonder how much it effects the compass?. Actually, would you use your compass with the AP on? The p70 does show your heading....correct?

Lander · Feb 15, 2016

It's a question of magnetism. Just hold the control head right next to your compass and move it around. You'll see if it has any effect at all. It is hard to believe that Ray Marine would design a control head that could not be mounted on the Edson pedestal

brazenarticle · Feb 15, 2016

Not sure I follow what the issue is in the original post, but I installed an EV 100 on my Catalina 28 and it works fine.
The P-70 is in an instrument box mounted to the pedestal guard ( the wires run down the inside of the stainless steel tube). That display is about 8 inches from the compass.
The motor for the wheel steering is at 5 o'clock when looking forward, about 18 -24 inches from the compass.
The ACU 100 is mounted below decks (high on the starboard side on the backside of the galley bulkhead) probably 6 feet or so in a direct line from the compass.
I used an NMEA 2000 cable from my Garmin chart plotter and all the instruments ( chartplotter, autopilot and compass show agreement on heading.
Mainesail has a good tutorial on running the wires through the pedestal guard tube if you are going that route.

kloudie1 · Feb 15, 2016

Garmin made the same dumb mistake by putting a magnetic latch on the chip door of some units. Mine pulls the compass 6-8 degrees off when it is mounted.. but the compass display on the Garmin works OK..

kito · Feb 15, 2016

I believe it's just a disclaimer by Raymarine to avoid problems from people using low quality compasses. Stating 3 feet kind of covers their behind even though it's overkill. My Richie compass has a 12v light plus my chart plotter will be within 8" of the compass.

OakHeart · Feb 15, 2016

I installed one about a year ago on my Catalina 270. The control head is mounted about 5 inches from the pedestal compass, no problems. the flux gate is supposed to be 3 feet from anything magnetic, but I do not remember that distance required for the control head.

capta · Feb 15, 2016

If y'all are worried that installing some electronics too close to your compass will affect it, have your compass swung by a professional after the installation and learn to use your compass deviation card. We used to do this annually, back before there was any other bit of gear to use to steer by.

Maine Sail · Feb 15, 2016

capta said:
If y'all are worried that installing some electronics too close to your compass will affect it, have your compass swung by a professional after the installation and learn to use your compass deviation card. We used to do this annually, back before there was any other bit of gear to use to steer by.

Finally the correct answer!

I can't tell you how many times I have had customers worried their new electronics will impact their compass. When I ask to see their deviation card........ BLANK STARES.......

If you did not have an accurate deviation card before the install nothing after the install will make it any worse..

kito · Feb 15, 2016

Maine Sail said:
Finally the correct answer!

I can't tell you how many times I have had customers worried their new electronics will impact their compass. When I ask to see their deviation card........ BLANK STARES.......

If you did not have an accurate deviation card before the install nothing after the install will make it any worse..

Maybe Raymarine should include this bit of information in their manual instead of just stating "stay away 3 feet"

Maine Sail · Feb 15, 2016

kito said:
Maybe Raymarine should include this bit of information in their manual instead of just stating "stay away 3 feet"

I suspect their lawyers write that part of the manual and probably recognize that perhaps 97% + of boaters will never have their compass properly swung, adjusted and have a deviation card...... Stack their equipment on top of that and someone dies due to a navigation error and who do you suppose gets blamed. Probably Raymarine, not the compass maker or the boat owner for not having it properly calibrated.

I've yet to see a compass that could not be swung with instruments mounted on the pedestal. The ones with magnetic doors are worse (Raymarine & Garmin both use magnets) but can still be corrected for despite having a crazy looking deviation card..

heritage · Feb 15, 2016

The heading display digits are very large on the p70 control head. No way are my old eyes going to the mag. compass while the ap is on. According to Ray Marine the fluxgate compass is accurate to 1-2 degrees. And somehow, while the boat is changing heading, it is able to improve it's accuracy overtime.
I'm not downplaying the need for an accurate mag compass, but for me while the ap is running, it will be used as backup to the fluxgate.

Skipper · Feb 16, 2016

I put the P70 next to the compass. Snuggled right up beside it (pic). At 3 inches, no effect. Final location, spun the compass 5 degrees. The chart plotter on top does not effect it.
I agonized over the deviation, because I like all of my gear to work properly. I'd tested the compass magnetically accurate prior to the electro-gadgets install, and frowned on the subsequent error.
I then decided that I could compensate while monitoring the compass in conjunction with the plotter, and if I did lose power or satellites, I could merely loosen the rail mounts and swing the offending and rendered-useless equipment 90 degrees to starboard, and thereby remove the deviation.

capta · Feb 16, 2016

kito said:
Maybe Raymarine should include this bit of information in their manual instead of just stating "stay away 3 feet"

Perhaps those who own a boat should know about the most basic things like deviation and variation, rather than expect some company that sells boating gear to educate them. This is basic knowledge, not some esoteric trade secret known only to octogenarian experienced professionals. Your compass is the one constant when all else fails. No electric failure, system shutdown, hacker or EMP is going to stop your compass from working. And a reliable compass will get you to a safe harbor.

kito · Feb 16, 2016

capta said:
Perhaps those who own a boat should know about the most basic things like deviation and variation, rather than expect some company that sells boating gear to educate them. This is basic knowledge, not some esoteric trade secret known only to octogenarian experienced professionals. Your compass is the one constant when all else fails. No electric failure, system shutdown, hacker or EMP is going to stop your compass from working. And a reliable compass will get you to a safe harbor.

Well alrighty then !!!

EV-100

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