Distributor: Description and Operation

EST Distributor With Hall Effect Switch:

EST Distributors With Separate Coil (Typical):

The distributor has a separate coil which connects to the rotor through a high tension wire.

The distributor uses a magnetic pick-up assembly located inside the distributor consists of a permanent magnet, a pole piece with internal teeth, pick-up coil, and a hall effect switch. When the teeth of the timer core, rotating inside the pole piece, line up with the teeth of the pole piece, an induced voltage in the pick-up coil signals the electronic module to trigger the coil primary circuit. The primary current decreases and a high voltage of 35,000 volts is induced in the ignition coil secondary winding which is directed through the rotor and secondary leads to fire the spark plugs. This system incorporates a hall effect switch which tells the ECM when to fire the next cylinder. The capacitor in the distributor is for radio noise suppression.

This distributor also features a longer spark duration, made possible by the higher amount of energy that is stored in the coil. This is desirable for firing leaner mixtures.