Jeppesen Nobeltec SSHS, Owner'S Manual

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Solid State Heading Sensor (SSHS) Owner’s Manual
2
INSTALLATION
Choosing a Mounting Location
The selection of a suitable mounting location is vital to the optimal performance of the Solid
State Heading Sensor. The mounting location and orientation of the SSHS should be:
1.
Level with the Earth’s Horizontal Plane –
Although the SSHS can be calibrated in the
vessel to compensate for pitch and roll installation-offset, it is best to mount the
compass as level as possible to maximize its pitch and roll operational range.
2.
Oriented with Arrow Pointing to Bow Parallel to Vessel Centerline –
Although the
SSHS can be calibrated in the vessel to compensate for heading installation-offset, it is
best to mount the compass pointed towards the bow and parallel to the vessel
centerline.
3.
Near the Center of Gravity (CG) of the Vessel –
The compass experiences the least
amount of movement when located at the CG, which allows the most accurate
readings. This is similar to a traditional card / needle compass, where the farther the
compass is from the CG, then the more the fluid sloshes around, making accurate
readings more difficult.
4.
Away from Structures Containing Ferrous Metals –
The earth’s lines of magnetic
flux tend to become distorted in the vicinity of ferrous metals, which can potentially
cause errors in the compass’s indicated heading. The SSHS can be calibrated to
compensate for these errors, but it is still best to minimize errors by placing the
compass as far away from ferrous metals as is practical.
5.
Away from Magnetic Field Sources –
Power or ignition cables, electric motors, and
other electronic equipment can create magnetic fields. The earth’s lines of magnetic flux
tend to become distorted in the vicinity of magnetic field sources, which can potentially
cause errors in the compass’s indicated heading. Magnetic fields tend to fluctuate as
power is switched on and off, which makes compensation impractical. Therefore, try to
mount the compass as far from these magnetic field sources as is possible.
Tip: Doubling the distance between a magnetic field source and the compass
will
reduce the field strength by a factor of approximately
8
. Also, always observe any
“compass-safe distance” markings on other electronic equipment.
6.
In a Location with Minimal Vibration –
Although the SSHS is more tolerant of
vibration than a fluxgate compass, it is best to mount the compass in a location free of
vibration as opposed to a location with vibration.