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Is My Magnetometer Broken?

Posted by Steven on February 28, 2011 at 7:50am

I received my AeroQuad electronics today and immediately started putting it all together. This is what I got (all bought from the diydrones store):

 

ArduPilot Mega

ArduPilotMega IMU Shield/OilPan Rev-H

MediaTek MT3329 GPS 10Hz

HMC5843 - Triple Axis Magnetometer Rev 1.2


My problem is the Magnetometer is giving me nothing but zeros:

 

Heading:0.00      (0,0,0)     offsets(0.00,0.00,0.00)
Heading:0.00      (0,0,0)     offsets(0.00,0.00,0.00)
Heading:0.00      (0,0,0)     offsets(0.00,0.00,0.00)

... and so on forever

 

I get the same result with ArduCopter RC2, ArduPiratesNG and the Compass Test included in the libraries.

 

I have the Magnetometer soldered directly onto the board via a 4-pin header as per the wiki instructions and have the configuration set for components down pins forward. I have also tried removing it and re-soldering it back on. I have thoroughly cleaned the contacts and also looked at the contacts under a microscope to check for bad solders / small bridges.

 

I'm at a loss. Can anyone think of something else to try, or do I have a bad Magnetometer?

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Replies

  • Steven March 10, 2011 at 1:51am
    I got the replacement and it works. Thanks for the replies.
  • Sam Kelly February 28, 2011 at 9:23am
    Steven, that looks like a defective board. Please email help@storediydrones.com!
  • Peter Seddon February 28, 2011 at 9:14am
    I have just installed one that gave the same readings. I exchanged it for a second one that I had and that worked ok so I concluded the first was faulty and contacted my supplier who is sending a replacement.

    Peter
This reply was deleted.

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