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Beware of hidden magnets

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  • 15-02-2018 11:30am
    #1
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,432 ✭✭✭✭


    A bit of cognitive dissonance going on here, but I just happened to be looking at a pair of Hestra fingerless mittens a few days ago that had a magnetic closure for the flap. Thought it was a really bad idea then, but now confirmed.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-43063365


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    #2
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Really interesting that it can reverse the polarity of the needle. When I saw the headline a couple of days ago I just assumed it confused the compass just like putting it on a table with a metal bar underneath (I've demonstrated this to scouts) - but reversing the direction completely is mental.


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    #3
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,432 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Yes, in fact after warning people in our walking group about it, someone reported yesterday that she experienced that very same phenomenon with her Silva compass. She suspects it may have been a magnetic holder for the tube of her water bladder that did it. I also know of two other instances within our group, one of unknown cause and another where a compass was in the top pocket of a rucksack placed underneath a parcel shelf speaker in the car.

    Happily it's a simple matter to remedy if it happens, just take a magnet and stroke it along the length of the needle towards the north (red) end.

    https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/skills/reverse_polarity_-_a_warning_to_compass_users-5385


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    #4
    BarryD2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,732 ✭✭✭BarryD2


    Alun wrote: »
    A bit of cognitive dissonance going on here, but I just happened to be looking at a pair of Hestra fingerless mittens a few days ago that had a magnetic closure for the flap. Thought it was a really bad idea then, but now confirmed.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-43063365

    Mind you, many mobile phones have compass apps now - so they could have checked the Silva against that :)

    That said, it can be all too easy to make the ground fit the map, even when other 'alarm bells' are dimly ringing in the background.


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    #5
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    My mobile phone has a magnetic catch for on its case. Hard to get a cheap case for a mobile that actually covers the front of the phone that doesn't have a magnet in it.

    Very likely a phone and a compass would end up in the same pocket at some time or other, which is what the OP's article is about.


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