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The design department at Firewall Forward has made an outstanding product even better! The Firewall Forward CAM 100 engine ignition computer has been enhanced by additional features and extra circuitry to make it even more reliable than is already was.
The reduction drive on the CAM 100 engine sits in the way of the regular distributor and rotor cap and plug wires. The rotor and distributor cap are weak points in any engine so the chance to replace it with an electronic multi-coil version was a positive step in the right direction. The original CAM 100 ignition controller used two sensors located at TDC and BDC to sense the movement of two magnets mounted on the flywheel. The micro-computer inside the Ignition Brain Box determines the position of the crankshaft from theses senors and turns on transistors at the proper time to provide consistent dwell and ignition advance for all four cylinders. A waste spark technique, firing two of the four coils at a time is used and this is reported to help keep the exhaust stroke spark plug clean.
The new CAM 100 ignition, like it's predecessor, uses two microcomputer, two sets of sensors, two sets of driver transistors and a set of relays to provide double redundancy for the engine's spark. The system can be cleanly split in two, with separate batteries, to provide even more safety in case of a catastrophic mechanical failure under the engine cowling. The new CAM 100 ignition also adds a third microprocessor to interpret the engine RPM data and provide an output for alternator driven marine tachometers. Now, the CAM 100 engine tachometer is not slaved to the alternator speed, but can display engine or propeller RPM switch selectable from the instrument panel!
Additional circuitry has been added to make all the signal lines entering the brain box even more resistant to external electrical interference created by equipment like Cell Phones, Radar signals or engine ignition noise. Self resetting fuses recover once the short circuit has been removed to reduce the likelihood of being stranded somewhere due to a blown fuse.
Each of these connections to the engine or instrument panel are now done through an environmentally sealed twist lock connector. One side of the new extruded aluminum box has the high power battery and coil connections while the other side of the box has the dual sensor, knock detector and instrument panel connections.
The connectors are all different too, so an engineering degree is not required to wire in the unit. Even the ignition coils power cable harness is designed to fit only one way. A rubber O-ring inside the connector helps the connector seal against moisture and alone with the twist lock design, prevents the connector from loosening due to vibration. A gasket between each end panel keeps the new circuit board, predominantly populated with surface mount devices for reliability, dry from moisture. The heat sink for the driver transistors is directly screwed to the case to provide additional support and dampen vibration.
The Honda engine, the CAM 100 Reduction Drive, and the new Ignition Brain Box together make a reliable combination that also has another name; SECURITY!
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