How To Set Declination Silva Compass, by Very Survival on YouTube. 6 min 49 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 49 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Find the magnetic declination for your area. Look in the map key or margin, or check an online declination calculator for your location and date.
Note whether declination is east or west and the number of degrees. Write it down so you do not mix up the direction.
Open the compass and locate the small adjustment screw on the baseplate near the bezel. On the Silva Expedition it sits under a flip-up cover.
Turn the screw with a small screwdriver or coin. Watch the declination scale move inside the housing.
Set the scale to your declination value. Turn the screw until the marker lines up with the correct degree mark and east or west side.
Close the cover and check the setting. The declination scale should stay where you set it because the adjustment is semi-permanent.
Test the compass against your map. Align the map grid lines with the orienting lines and confirm the bearing reads correctly.
Tips and common mistakes
Recheck declination every few years because magnetic north drifts slowly over time.
If you cannot find the screw, check the manual for your exact Silva model since some versions differ.
Keep the compass away from phones, magnets and metal objects while you set and test it.
Questions
What is magnetic declination?
It is the angle between magnetic north and true north at your location. Maps use true north, so you adjust the compass to match.
Do I set east or west declination?
Set the direction shown on your map key. East declination means magnetic north sits east of true north, and west means the opposite.
Will the setting stay after I close the compass?
Yes. The Silva Expedition uses a semi-permanent adjustment, so the declination stays set until you change it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
