Lets explain all ignition system (that I know of)
1st distributor
2nd waste spark (dual coil firing 1&4 then 2&3 and needs a crank & cam angle sensor, still have 2 plug cables)
3rd COPs (4 coils, each coil above each plug, no plug cable, still needs crank & cam angle sensor)
1st - no need to explain, I'm sure everyone knows
2nd - coil is smaller than distributor type by 1/2 - but runs 2 coils. The triggering is from the ECU (i.e. requires ECU with pre-programmed waste spark system).
Although the triggering is from ECU, which is software, it still needs a hardware to physically triggers the coils.
The hardware is called a "ignitor" and waste spark system either runs 2 single channel ignitor or run 1 dual channel ignitor.
standard GZE system runs 1 ignitor but dual channel, so does the mitsubishis. Except of old models.
Finally, COPs.
It will require a ECU with software for 4 triggers (software).
The hardware is a 4 channels ignitor.
The coils are 1/2 size smaller than waste spark. So this makes it 1/4 smaller than distributor type.
The reason they can be small is because their resting time is 3/4 longer than signal coil.
Their resting time is 1/2 longer than waste spark.
The ignition timing is only 0.5 degrees more accurate than distributor, no big deal, easily correctable by any methods of spark plug gap, or distributor angle.
All these ignition systems still needs a measurement devide. The standard distributor can be modifed to become a measurement device only, just like GZE and mitsubishis type. No need seperate crank & cam angle sensor like WAJA.
This is not necessary the best, but definitely less maintaince. Seperate crank & cam sensor means 2 sensor, often the crank sensor will be damage when changing timng belt because they are electro-magnetic measurement device, they are very prone to shock / vibration damages.
Sticking to single crank & cam sensor like GZE and mitsubishi reduces this chance of damage.
The difference / advantage is techonology is miminal, negligible for people like us. Only F1 needs to worry.
Summary, it's not only dist versus waste spark versus COPs, it's also what kind of measurement tehcnology to use.
1st distributor
2nd waste spark (dual coil firing 1&4 then 2&3 and needs a crank & cam angle sensor, still have 2 plug cables)
3rd COPs (4 coils, each coil above each plug, no plug cable, still needs crank & cam angle sensor)
1st - no need to explain, I'm sure everyone knows
2nd - coil is smaller than distributor type by 1/2 - but runs 2 coils. The triggering is from the ECU (i.e. requires ECU with pre-programmed waste spark system).
Although the triggering is from ECU, which is software, it still needs a hardware to physically triggers the coils.
The hardware is called a "ignitor" and waste spark system either runs 2 single channel ignitor or run 1 dual channel ignitor.
standard GZE system runs 1 ignitor but dual channel, so does the mitsubishis. Except of old models.
Finally, COPs.
It will require a ECU with software for 4 triggers (software).
The hardware is a 4 channels ignitor.
The coils are 1/2 size smaller than waste spark. So this makes it 1/4 smaller than distributor type.
The reason they can be small is because their resting time is 3/4 longer than signal coil.
Their resting time is 1/2 longer than waste spark.
The ignition timing is only 0.5 degrees more accurate than distributor, no big deal, easily correctable by any methods of spark plug gap, or distributor angle.
All these ignition systems still needs a measurement devide. The standard distributor can be modifed to become a measurement device only, just like GZE and mitsubishis type. No need seperate crank & cam angle sensor like WAJA.
This is not necessary the best, but definitely less maintaince. Seperate crank & cam sensor means 2 sensor, often the crank sensor will be damage when changing timng belt because they are electro-magnetic measurement device, they are very prone to shock / vibration damages.
Sticking to single crank & cam sensor like GZE and mitsubishi reduces this chance of damage.
The difference / advantage is techonology is miminal, negligible for people like us. Only F1 needs to worry.
Summary, it's not only dist versus waste spark versus COPs, it's also what kind of measurement tehcnology to use.
