Raymarine’s FAQs for Micro Compass
• What is the life of the battery in my Tacktick Micro Compass?
• Can my Tacktick Micro Compass be used in the southern hemisphere?
• I am laying up my boat for the winter. What is the best thing to do with my Micronet Instruments?
• What are the benefits of a Tacktick precision digital compass?
• What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass will not stay on?
• How do I charge the battery in my Tacktick Micro Compass?
• My Micro Compass is not giving me correct readings?
• Does my Tacktick Micro Compass float?
• What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass will not stay on?
• Can I use the Micro Compass for navigation?
• Will my Tacktick Micro Compass work at night?
• My Tacktick Micro Compass rattles or sounds as if it has water inside it?
• Is my Tacktick Micro Compass waterproof?
• What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass won’t turn on?
• Will my Displays re-charge their battery even if they are switched off?
What is the life of the battery in my Tacktick Micro Compass?
The battery is a specialist Lithium Cell that does not have a memory and therefore will last the life of your Tacktick Micro Compass.
Can my Tacktick be used in the southern hemisphere?
Yes. There is no set up required. The fluxgate compass units installed in the Tacktick Micro Compass devices operate correctly all around the globe. There are no regional changes to be made and the Tacktick Micro Compass readings will be accurate worldwide.
I am laying up my boat for the winter. What is the best thing to do with my Micronet Instruments?
It is best to ensure that all the wireless components of a Micronet system are fully charged before storing for the winter. If there is not enough sunlight to charge Displays then connect a 9-24V supply to the terminals hidden behind the small panel on the rear of the display and leave for 12 hours. Ensure that power has been supplied to Hull and NMEA Transmitters for 12 hours before layup. If the mast is taken down for the winter then it is best to remove the Wind Transmitter to prevent damage. Check the outside of the unit is clean and rinse with fresh water then dry it thoroughly before storing safely away. All components can be stored away on the boat or at home for the winter period.
What are the benefits of a Tacktick Micro Compass?
Tacktick Micro Compass are precise, lightweight, and easy to read, so you can spend less time looking at the compass, and more time thinking through the tactics. They are also portable and straightforward to install, so you can take your Tacktick Micro Compass from boat to boat, and rapidly set up for tactical racing.
What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass will not stay on?
The battery level may be low. All Tacktick Micro Compass Instruments have a battery level indicator, this shows how many hours of use your Tacktick Micro Compass has with no sun light. If when you turn the instrument on the battery level is low you need to charge your batteries see charging my instrument. Alternatively if a unit is left and the electronics see no change in data then it will shut down automatically to conserve power. This will not happen at sea but will happen if a unit is left on at home.
How do I charge the battery in my Tacktick Micro Compass?
To achieve the best recharge time, you must place your Tacktick Micro Compass carefully with respect to the sunshine, making sure that the solar cell is perpendicular to the midday sun, and that the unit is placed outside. For a completely flat battery the Tacktick Micro Compass should be left in the sunlight for 4-5 days.
If you do not have a suitable outside location, then be sure that the indoor site chosen has DIRECT BRIGHT sunshine, for at least 10 hours of the day and avoid tinted glass windows. Ensure solar cell is at right angles to the midday sun.
Even in cloudy weather, if you position the solar cell as above for 5 days, then you should achieve enough charge to complete a weekends racing.
Battery hours indicated at power up is affected by temperature and will give an artificially high reading just after charging. For a true reading always allow the Tacktick Micro Compass to cool before powering up to see the battery charge condition.
The charge is displayed just after power up with the unit showing “bAt” in one window and the number of hours of operation remaining in the other.
My Tacktick Micro Compass is not giving me correct readings?
Is the Tacktick Micro Compass mounted in a clean area and on a vertical surface?
Although the fluxgate compass will operate accurately up to angles of 20 degrees either side of vertical the unit should be mounted vertically to allow it to operate effectively when the boat heals during normal sailing conditions.
Is the Tacktick Micro Compass mounted in a clean area, i.e. no other magnetic items (a glass ball compass, any steel, instruments with dials etc).
There is no compensation or setup facility in the Tacktick Micro Compass as it is designed primerly for the small boat market where it will be mounted in a clear area free from external magnetic influence.
If the Tacktick Micro Compass is giving faulty readings it will be useful to make notes of the expected and actual readings before contacting our support team.
Does my Tacktick Micro Compass float?
Yes. Due to the light weight construction and the volume of air trapped inside the sealed unit a Tacktick Micro Compass will float.
It is probably worth practicing your man overboard drill if ever the Tacktick Micro Compass does get knocked into the water and certainly any form of wear and tear or damage to the cradle or mounting bracket should be sorted out before the Tacktick Micro Compass itself goes for a swim.
What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass will not stay on?
The Tacktick Micro Compass has a battery level indicator, this shows how many hours of use your Tacktick Micro Compass has with no sun light. If when you turn the Tacktick Micro Compass on the battery level is low you need to charge your battery, see FAQ charging my instrument. Alternatively if the unit is not moving it will auto shut down. This will not happen at sea.
Can I use the Micro Compass for navigation?
As there is no compensation for local deviation in the Tacktick Micro Compass it is not recommended for navigational use. The Master and Micronet ranges can be corrected using their in-built software and may be used for navigation.
The Tacktick Micro Compass is designed to be used as a tactical compass to help dinghy sailors spot wind shifts and increase performance upwind. Because the Tacktick Micro Compass is normally fitted to a boat with no ferrous metal components and this mode of operation uses a differential in compass heading to determine the wind shifts it is not necessary to correct the compass for local deviation. Allowing the unit to store such information would also make the Tacktick Micro Compass illegal in many class rules.
Will my Tacktick Micro Compass work at night?
Yes it will but there is no backlight facility on the Tacktick Micro Compass so an external light source will be necessary. A fully charged Tacktick Micro Compass will operate for around 200 hours without any sunlight.
The Race Master has a backlight (3 levels) to assist in night sailing and all the Micronet range of displays have back light.
My Tacktick Micro Compass rattles or sounds as if it has water inside it?
The fluxgate compass in the Tacktick Micro Compass is filled with oil which makes this noise.
Is my Tacktick Micro Compass waterproof?
Yes. All Tacktick Micro Compass displays are waterproof. Submersible to 32.8ft (10m) although the Tacktick Micro Compass will float. Unlike many other marine electronics instruments Tacktick Micro Compass products are fully sealed and can be submerged to depths of 32.8ft (10m). There have been reports of displays being lost overboard and then retrieved later by divers several days later to be placed back on board still working.
It is recommended that Hull Transmitters and Speed/Depth Pods are located in areas of the boat such that they are not subjected to direct water spray.
What happens if my Tacktick Micro Compass won’t turn on?
Your Tacktick Micro Compass probably needs charging, place the Tacktick Micro Compass in bright sunlight on a window sill.
Bright Sun: 2 Days
Cloudy Days: 5 Days
Dull Days: 10 Days
It is not possible to recharge the battery with electric lighting – sunlight must be used
Will my Tacktick Micro Compass re-charge their battery even if they are switched off?
Yes. All batteries will be charged when off regardless of whether they are Displays left in daylight or Hull/NMEA Transmitters left connected to an external power source.