Spark Balancing Spark Balancing is an advanced technology normally used in Formula 1, where engine speeds are tremendously high. This technique is built into the 123-Ignition. Its microprocessor constantly monitors the amount of energy contributed by each individual cylinder.
Automatic Dwell Control A mechanical distributor has a fixed dwell-angle, sometimes resulting in overheated coils at low speeds, weaker sparks and misfiring at high speeds. Why? An ignition coil only needs a couple of milliseconds to charge, but with a fixed dwell-angle these are ”overcharged” many times when idling, resulting in… overheated coils! At high speeds the fixed dwell angle tends to leave too little time to fully charge the coil, resulting in… weaker sparks and misfiring!
The software also automatically adjusts the dwell angle (the time it takes for the coil to be charged) to the RPM. This also prevents the coil from getting overheated at low RPM. The necessity to adjust the T.D.C. remains (only once). To facilitate this, the 123-Ignition features a built-in LED which lights up the moment the ignition is activated. This results in a very accurate setting. However, one can always further adjust the ignition by using a stroboscopic timing light.
The ignition-system in a classic car is often the source of many problems. After years of use, the mechanical distributor becomes worn and increasingly inaccurate. Although replacement of the standard points with an optical eye or magnetic ignition set-up is an improvement, it does not compensate for the wear in the advance-mechanism, the distributor shaft and bearings within the distributor itself.
The 123-Ignition distributor is different. The electronic componets are build in your existing distributor housing, so it have the classic appearance to its mechanical counterpart. All electronics have been incorporated in the housing. New bronze bearings are build in to take care everything is free of play.
Maintenance Free Timing In a 123-Ignition, all moving parts – like the original points, the centrifugal weights, the springs, the bearings and the vacuum-diaphragm – have been replaced with just one moving part: the central shaft with the rotor.
The internal electronics provide the right advance and the optimum dwell-angle throughout the rev. range to maintain peak energy and peak performance. There is no wear altering the timing of the 123-Ignition: once set, you’ll never have to worry about it again! Sixteen Advance Curves
Sixteen Advance Curves With a little switch behind an opening in the bottom-face of the billet-housing, you can select the best advance-curve for your engine. Why? Well simply because many different advance-curves were prescribed by car-manufacturers. You buy one 123-Ignition, but you get sixteen different distributors!
