Hi Mike,
The debate continuously rages about the benefits and drawbacks of the
various ignition systems. There are those who espouse the original
points/capacitor/coil system for its innate simplicity, reliability and ease of
repair. It rarely fails and if it does it's easy and cheap to repair if
you simply carry a spare set of points in the car. Jaguar won LeMans with
the same system we use in our cars today. Its only drawback is that the
points periodically need to be adjusted and eventually replaced because they
slowly burn away.
On the other hand, there are those who prefer the optical or magnetic (pointless) approach. With a pointless ignition there is never any need to readjust the timing or dwell. However, in addition to being more complex and expensive, the worst drawback is that if it ever fails you are truly stranded. The cost of a tow can easily exceed the cost of the ignition system, not to mention the inconvenience, embarrassment and aggravation. To solve this problem, some people have bought two pointless units so they can carry a spare. This adds substantially to the cost. Others carry a spare set of points so they can switch back if the pointless module fails. Neither solution is particularly appealing, since it's no fun fumbling around with little screws on a hot engine by the side of the road in the dark.
The new PSDeluxe electronic ignition module represents a completely different philosophy from the pointless units. I thought of all the features that I would like to have in an ignition system and designed them into this one. It uses the original points and the original coil, and simply installs in place of the wire that normally connects between them. The points act as a trigger for the module and the module fires the coil. The points carry so little current that they should never need to be replaced or even adjusted. Installation is so simple you don't even need to open the distributor. The four wires on the PSDeluxe connect directly to the two terminals on the coil, the terminal on the distributor, and ground. It is housed in a sealed diecast aluminum case with a 16 gauge neoprene cable for ruggedness and durability.
On the other hand, there are those who prefer the optical or magnetic (pointless) approach. With a pointless ignition there is never any need to readjust the timing or dwell. However, in addition to being more complex and expensive, the worst drawback is that if it ever fails you are truly stranded. The cost of a tow can easily exceed the cost of the ignition system, not to mention the inconvenience, embarrassment and aggravation. To solve this problem, some people have bought two pointless units so they can carry a spare. This adds substantially to the cost. Others carry a spare set of points so they can switch back if the pointless module fails. Neither solution is particularly appealing, since it's no fun fumbling around with little screws on a hot engine by the side of the road in the dark.
The new PSDeluxe electronic ignition module represents a completely different philosophy from the pointless units. I thought of all the features that I would like to have in an ignition system and designed them into this one. It uses the original points and the original coil, and simply installs in place of the wire that normally connects between them. The points act as a trigger for the module and the module fires the coil. The points carry so little current that they should never need to be replaced or even adjusted. Installation is so simple you don't even need to open the distributor. The four wires on the PSDeluxe connect directly to the two terminals on the coil, the terminal on the distributor, and ground. It is housed in a sealed diecast aluminum case with a 16 gauge neoprene cable for ruggedness and durability.
Only the highest quality heavy-duty parts are used in the PSDeluxe.
It is designed to withstand abuse that will never be encountered under normal
circumstances. For example, the following picture shows the module
generating sparks which are flashing over the top of the ignition
coil. They are arcing directly to the wires that connect to the
electronics inside the PSDeluxe case, yet the electronic parts remain
undamaged. It can do that all day, it doesn't get hot and it doesn't miss
a beat. Can the competition survive this torture test? Can the
competition even generate sparks like that?
The coil in the picture has a resistance of 0.6 ohms and is designed to be
used with a large ballast resistor. Without the resistor the coil pulls 20
Amps from the 12 volt battery. I connected this coil directly to the
PSDeluxe without the resistor and it works fine without overheating the
coil or the ignition module. That's just another example of the ruggedness
of the PSDeluxe design. Even if you were to accidentally wire a shorted
coil to the ignition module it would still survive. That's
because protective circuitry accounts for fully 2/3 of the parts in the
PSDeluxe. It protects your points, protects your coil and protects
itself.
But if anything ever were to go wrong with the electronics you have an ace
in the hole. On the side of the module is a switch which completely
disconnects the electronic ignition and connects your original points back to
your original coil. A flip of the switch and you're back on the road again
with your original ignition system in place. Even though you'd never
expect to use it, it's nice to know it's there.
But the features don't end there. The computerized PSDeluxe knows enough to not apply power to the coil unless the engine is turning, even if the points are closed. That way you can listen to the radio or do electrical troubleshooting without overheating the coil or burning the points. An LED on the top of the case lights when the points are open to aid in electrical testing and static timing. When the engine is running, the built-in microprocessor calculates precisely how much time is required for the coil to recharge between each spark for optimum performance. This saves energy and prevents coil overheating, which prolongs coil life. Because the computer calculates the dwell time your points gap is largely irrelevant. At low and mid RPMs the module actually fires each plug twice on each power stroke, ensuring more complete fuel combustion. And to protect your engine from accidental over-revving the PSDeluxe includes a programmable RPM limiter which uses a sequential spark-stealing algorithm to smoothly reduce power when the engine's redline is reached. The limit can be set lower for running-in a new engine or higher for racing applications. The PSDeluxe will work in any foreign or domestic car with a 12 Volt, negative ground points-type ignition system.
But the features don't end there. The computerized PSDeluxe knows enough to not apply power to the coil unless the engine is turning, even if the points are closed. That way you can listen to the radio or do electrical troubleshooting without overheating the coil or burning the points. An LED on the top of the case lights when the points are open to aid in electrical testing and static timing. When the engine is running, the built-in microprocessor calculates precisely how much time is required for the coil to recharge between each spark for optimum performance. This saves energy and prevents coil overheating, which prolongs coil life. Because the computer calculates the dwell time your points gap is largely irrelevant. At low and mid RPMs the module actually fires each plug twice on each power stroke, ensuring more complete fuel combustion. And to protect your engine from accidental over-revving the PSDeluxe includes a programmable RPM limiter which uses a sequential spark-stealing algorithm to smoothly reduce power when the engine's redline is reached. The limit can be set lower for running-in a new engine or higher for racing applications. The PSDeluxe will work in any foreign or domestic car with a 12 Volt, negative ground points-type ignition system.
If you own a Series 2 E-Type or other car that has a Smiths electronic
tachometer you may have hesitated to purchase an electronic ignition because you
know how much trouble it can be to make your tach read correctly. Well,
the PSDeluxe is available in a Series 2 version which is optimized to work
perfectly with your electronic tachometer. Not only that, it plugs
directly into the spade lugs on your existing coil and distributor so
installation is a snap.
Either version is available now directly from the manufacturer for the low
price of $125 postpaid or $135 worldwide. What more could you want in an
ignition system?
If you would like to enjoy the benefits of the Points Saver Deluxe ignition
system in your car, simply send a check for the appropriate amount
to
Mike Eck
Mike Eck
71 Hillcrest Road
Martinsville, NJ 08836
Let me know if you want a Standard or a Series 2 version, whether your
distributor uses ring or spade lugs, and what RPM you would like the rev limiter
preset to.
Specifications document download.
Thanks!
Mike Eck