Distributorless Ignition System (DIS)

As car owners and engineers, we understand that wear and tear is terrible and unavoidable. This is the limitation of all car components. In the ignition system, the distributor is the key parts, yet it is the one component that wear and tear the most. This raises the question: Can we ignite to start the car without the distributor? In this article, we will answer that.

The Definition of Distributorless Ignition System (DIS)

The DIS, also known as Distributorless Ignition System, is the ignition system in which various induction coils replace the distributor of the electronic ignition system. The ICU, also known as Ignition control unit, as well as ECU (Engine control unit), will take care of the timing of the spark. This makes the whole DIS much more accurate as well as efficient.

With the introduction of the ignition system,this system became famous. In fact, there are various ignition systems created from these ideas. They are results of changes and improvements with the purpose of making the ignition system much more effective and reliable.

Why we Need the Distributorless Ignition System (DIS)

We come with the most famous 4: Magneto ignition system, glow plug ignition system, electric coil ignition system as well as electronics ignition system. In these types, we will mainly focus on electronic ignition systems since it is the technology that most super and latest cars use .

However, there are various reasons why we need the distributorless ignition system.

The Reasons

Firstly, the electronic ignition system uses the distributor in order to distribute the voltage signal from the ignition module. And these high voltage signals will come to the spark plugs. As we know, the distributor used is a mechanical part with a rotor that finishes the circuit and controls the spark timing. Therefore, it makes the system wear and tear, as well as reduce the efficiency of the system.

Secondly, car owners with electronic ignition systems must perform maintenance a lot more often than distributorless ignition systems. With DIS, your car needs to be checked every 100,000 miles, while the service period for the electronic ignition system is 25,000 miles, which is four times longer.

Thirdly, the accuracy of spark timing of the electronic ignition system will reduce over time.

Lastly, the distributor as well as the point gap of the distributor need to be checked regularly.

The Cause of Issues

You must have noticed by now, that all these issues are caused by one single car part: the distributor. And the idea of making a smart ignition system called distributorless ignition system (DIS) appeared. With this invention, the spark time accuracy is raised with the help of an electronic control unit and ignition module. Not to mention, with multiple ignition coils, the distribution of the high voltage signal to the spark plugs is straight. This helps reduce the wear and tear of the whole system. All of these makes the DIS the most reliable and efficient ignition system today.

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Distributorless Ignition System Main Parts

The DIS shares many similarities in main components with the electronic ignition system. And they are:

Ignition Switch

This is the most basic part in the ignition system that governs the ON and OFF.

Battery

The same with the electronic ignition system, we use the powerhouse to charge the battery.

Magnetic Triggering Devices

Another crucial component is the device controlling the spark plug’s timing. This device senses the crankshaft and camshaft’s location. To be more specific, the crankshaft triggering device is the part mounting on the crankshaft. This part also senses the piston position. Meanwhile, the camshaft triggering device connected with the camshaft and senses the timing of the valve.

Spark Plug

Spark plug is one of the key components in the distributorless ignition system. The role of the spark plug is to generate spark inside the cylinder.

Ignition Control Module

This is the programmed instruction for the chipset. If you are wondering about the working function of the primary coil circuit for ON and OFF buttons, this ICM, or Ignition Control Unit is the one.

Ignition Coil

Last but not least, these ignition coils together generate high voltage for spark plugs.

How Distributorless Ignition System Works

Now we all know the definition, as well as the main components of distributorless ignition systems. It is time to acknowledge its working function.

The Current

First of all, when we turn on the ignition, the current inside the battery begins to flow. It will run to the ignition switch to the electric control unit of the car which is connected to the coils and ignition module. This action makes and breaks the circuit.

Create Magnetic Field

Second of all, we want magnetic fields to make the whole system work. And in order to do that, we need the camshaft and crankshaft. To be more precise, the triggering wheels mounted on these magnetic triggering parts have equally spaced teeths with a gap, along with the position sensors that will generate magnetic fields.

car — We need the magnetic field for the whole system to work (Photo Source: Pexels)

Make and Break the Signal

Third of all, when the gaps come right in front of the sensors, there will be fluctuations in the magnetic field. Along with the signals from both sensors, they all come to the ignition module to sense the signal in turn. This signal makes the current stop flowing in the primary winding of the coils. So what happens when the gaps go away shortly after? The sensor’s signals are sent to the ignition module, followed by turning ON the current to flow in the winding of the coils.

Raise the Voltage

Fourth of all, this whole process of making and breaking the signals eventually generates a magnetic field and induces EMF in the secondary winding of coils. And it will raise the voltage to nearly 70000 volts. And the spark plugs receive this voltage. After that, the generation of sparks will happen.

Last of all, the electronic control unit controls the spark plug’s timing. The working mechanism of this unit is by continuously processing the data from the ignition control module.