Experience with SIRS compass?

My aircraft compass, Airpath glare-shield mounted, has recently sprung
a leak, and nearly all the fluid has disappeared over the past 4-6 weeks.
My mechanic says the diaphram has probably broken, and can be easily
replaced. But I'm thinking this could be an opportunity to replace it
with a SIRS compass (www.sirs.co.uk). Their web site says this compass
uses a smaller card and silicone-based fluid for better damping.
And I'm hoping the lighting is better than in my existing compass.
Although it is lit, the light is so dim that I still have to use a
flashlight on it anyway.

Does anyone, particularly in the SF Bay area, have experience with this
brand of compass? What is involved in swapping out the ccompass compared
to repairing? Yes, swapping will be more expensive, but to me it would
be worthwhile if the SIRS compass really does perform better.


Happy landings,
Ross Oliver

Ross Oliver asks:

Does anyone, particularly in the SF Bay area, have experience with
this
brand of compass?

I'm not in the SF area, but I've got a SIRS compass in my homebuilt.

What is involved in swapping out the ccompass compared
to repairing?

Take out four screws, swap compass, put in four screws. Should take
about 10 minutes. If it's electrically lit, you'll have to do a two
wire connection - maybe another 10-15 minutes.

....Yes, swapping will be more expensive, but to me it would
be worthwhile if the SIRS compass really does perform better.

I had a vertical card compass prior to the SIRS. Didn't like the
position I had it in, and didn't like how it operated. It was a bit
sticky, and needed to be adjusted every 6 months or so. I put the SIRS
compass in and love it. Very accurate, doesn't need adjusting (at ALL,
yet, after about a year), and easy to read.

I definitely recommend it.

--
Marc J. Zeitlin
http://marc.zeitlin.home.comcast.net/
http://www.cozybuilders.org/
Copyright (c) 2005

I've had an SIRS compass in my 182 for several years and I am delighted with
it. As opposed to the original compass, I can actually read the SIRS, even
at night. Also, the compass deviation card says, simply, no compass
deviation card required. The SIRS apparently has extra compensators which
allowed the installer to get it spot on.

Jon

"Ross Oliver" wrote in message
...

My aircraft compass, Airpath glare-shield mounted, has recently sprung
a leak, and nearly all the fluid has disappeared over the past 4-6 weeks.
My mechanic says the diaphram has probably broken, and can be easily
replaced. But I'm thinking this could be an opportunity to replace it
with a SIRS compass (www.sirs.co.uk). Their web site says this compass
uses a smaller card and silicone-based fluid for better damping.
And I'm hoping the lighting is better than in my existing compass.
Although it is lit, the light is so dim that I still have to use a
flashlight on it anyway.

Does anyone, particularly in the SF Bay area, have experience with this
brand of compass? What is involved in swapping out the ccompass compared
to repairing? Yes, swapping will be more expensive, but to me it would
be worthwhile if the SIRS compass really does perform better.


Happy landings,
Ross Oliver