Hi Paul

Whilst awaiting a new computer from Tracy to fix my miss firing problems,
which he guessed were caused by the RX8 pick up having too high an
output, I decided to recheck to igniter coil pack temperature rise.
2.5 ms 5volt trigger pulse, 12volt to coil,  R plug, 8ms between
pulses(7500rpm) , ambient T  75 F.
T measured by glass thermometer taped to underside of coil pack.
Thermocouple taped to side of coil pack.
Runtime 30 minutes.
Temps.  Glass thermometer 120 F  Thermocouple 140 F.

Amperage at 12 volts was 0.9A which gives a dissipation of  10.8 watts.

Tracy said they burn out at an ambient of 130 F. I am not surprised.
I have moved mine to the front of the engine on top of the air duct to
the radiators and drilled holes in the cowl for cold air.
I think the main problem with the under radiator setup is that the air
having passed through the  radiators does not pass over the engine
before exiting.

Hope to contact Bob Mears tonight  for two more coil packs.


 RV7 seven months to build, over a year to debug it.
Ian in Western Australia.


Its those dang Chevy V8 Chinese coils :)
Not designed to fire once per revolution at 7500 RPM.
In a Chevy V8 they fire once every OTHER rev at only 6500 RPM
and then for only a fraction of a second and then the driver
shifts into second gear. What we need are two cycle coils.
they fire once per rev.

Just put a dedicated blast tube and scoop to blow some
cold air over the engine. Put a few louvers on the top of the
cowl and let nature takes its convection course :)


Paul Lamar

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