Ignition Hall Effect Sensor: Description and Operation

Hall Effect Distributor:

Hall Effect Distributor (Turbo Engines):

The Hall Effect Pick-Up supplies crankshaft and camshaft position reference signals to the Single Board Engine Controller (SBEC). The Hall effect device consists of a magnet and a Hall switch mounted with a gap between the switch and magnet. Rotating in the gap is an armature with windows and tabs. When a tab is in between the switch and magnet, the magnetic lines of flux are shunted through the tab increasing the effect of the magnet on the Hall switch turning it on. When the window is between the magnet and the Hall switch the magnet alone is not enough to trigger the switch. The digital output signal of the Hall effect sensor is then used by the SBEC for crankshaft and camshaft position reference signals. The Hall effect pick-up is located in the distributor assembly. On turbo vehicles there is a second pickup in the distributor for timing of the multi-point injection.