Anyone used a compass in a car? Does it work?

[mrpowers]

I have a little compass (which I've used for hiking) and a larger ball compass - both liquid based. Recently I came to this idea of using it in the car and I'm surprised why I never thought of that before! Well I gave it a try the other day with both and was left disappointed - both compasses weren't entirely accurate and at one point one of them was the polar opposite of the direction I was facing.

I'm no physics expert but a google did confirm my suspicion that the compasses get interfered with other metallic objects in the car - outside the car both compasses work great. I've looked on ebay for any specific "car compasses", will they work well? Surely they can't sell us a sham. Some of the ones I found from UK sellers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294596041563
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284649904242
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304322057412
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154876328933
(and plenty more inc. from China)

I would appreciate opinions on these compasses as well as any experience or advise you've had from using compasses in cars.

[Bill]

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I can bring up a compass on my Sat Nav settings. Works fine.

[PositronicRay]

In the 70s no self respecting dad would be without one stuck to the dashboard of his ford Cortina.

During the day I mostly orientate myself using the sun, dull days will see me checking tree trunks for moss.

I used to like leaving London a large sign declaring 'NORTH' took the guesswork out of it.

[768]

Sounds pretty useless to me these days. Although I did once end up navigating by the sun in Iraq and a compass would have been useful, especially when the sun went down.

Bill said:

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

[MikeM6]

My old car had a digital compass display in the rear view mirror. Given it also had satnav, I didn't really see the point to be honest!

[Saudade]

Yep you can get ones that work, they were OEM and built into the dashboard of some cars (at least in the 90s).

[ExPat2B]

The ball sailing type compasses can be used, very 80's and the better ones are resistant to magnetic interference.

I used to use one as an inclinometer when off roading to judge angles.

[Bill]

768 said:

Bill said:

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

I'm serious.

[Triumph Man]

PositronicRay said:

During the day I mostly orientate myself using the sun.

My Wife laughed at me when I said I navigate using the sun, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[GroundEffect]

I have never needed a compass during the day. Just use the sun's position...

[PositronicRay]

Bill said:

768 said:

Bill said:

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

I'm serious.

What, all 32 of them?

[Bill]

4 should do.

[motco]

I had a proper car compass in the 1980s, and used it together with a good working knowledge of the major arterial roads. Satnav has put paid to that and to map reading though. But... come the revolution...

[HealeyV8]

Nah, use dowsing rods and hook into them lay lines.

[PositronicRay]

Bill said:

4 should do.

One should do.

[motco]

PositronicRay said:

Bill said:

4 should do.

One should do.

The instructions with mine said four if I recall.

[Triumph Man]

GroundEffect said:

I have never needed a compass during the day. Just use the sun's position...

I'm going to send my wife this thread.

[snotrag]

Bill said:

768 said:

Bill said:

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

I'm serious.

That is exactly how do you them on aircraft.

[Toltec]

768 said:

Sounds pretty useless to me these days. Although I did once end up navigating by the sun in Iraq and a compass would have been useful, especially when the sun went down.

Bill said:

They do work, but need calibrating. So fix in the car and then turn the car to each compass point and adjust.

North star, should still be 30 degrees above the horizon?