Paul Lamar  Back from Grand Ma's house.


Here it is. This disc is in balance.  It could be cut with a laser
out of 1/16 thick aluminum or thinner stainless steel. Your choice.
If a demand develops I will have a batch made. Can be mounted with
long spacers on the front of the e-shaft pulley.

Tested on the bench from 30 RPM to 8000 RPM with
Nippon Denso/GM DS580 part number 12558948 coil.
4 millisecond dwell at 8000 RPM.

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I tested an RX8 coil. They are not as robust as the LS1/Denso,
They have a thermal overload circuit that cuts them off
if the dwell is too long. They also draw a lot more
current. It did not take long before it shut down.
It will burn your fingers.

Tracy and the Megasquirt connector diagrams for the LS1/Denso GM DS580
part number 12558948 coil are ambiguous. Here is MY diagram
and it is perfect :)

I tested it again on the bench from 30 RPM to 12000 RPM with
Nippon Denso/GM DS580 part number 12558948 coil.

For new airplanes I recommend it.

Here is a picture of the spark at 150 sparks per second
or 9,000 RPM.

Paul Lamar

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I take it back. The RX8 coil does not have an overheat circuit.
It merely blows!!!!!!!
Does anybody know if Tracy has a special version of the computer
for RX8 coils and RX8 crank angle sensor? In other words can I merely
change the coils to the Nippon Denso/GM DS580 part number 12558948 coil?

Paul Lamar


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http://mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54732

"As you may know ignition coil packs have become a potential failure point on all 30,000 mile plus RX-8’s this has unfortunately led to engine failures attributed, 100% to the coils not powering the spark plugs properly."

"When these coils fail the unfortunate driver often never even knows he has a problem as there is not a huge power decrease, however due to the coils not producing enough power to the spark plugs this has led to unburnt fuel being left in the engines Rotor chamber that has then washed the oil away leading to rapid wear, loss of compression resulting with the engine not starting properly and the only cure being a new engine."

My RX8 does not have this problem yet. I think. Perhaps it does as I have not
tested them. Good thing I have been adding oil to the fuel as a back up.
Apparently the OBD II cannot detect this problem or it would
light the check engine light on the dash

However the RX8 coils on the test engine has a part number of:
N3 H1 18 100
AIC-1355
32818

Hard to see except in bright sunlight.

I found out that both Autozone and Pep Boys have changed the
part numbers around 2008 indicating to me they now sell the upgraded
set. Normally Autozone will test electronic parts for free but
they cannot test RX8 coils. At least at my local Autozone. Pep boys
is quoting $39.99 each. Of course there are four per two rotor engine.

The failed RX8 coil from the test engine does not have the dis-colorization
shown in this picture. It might be a good idea to stick new RX8 coils in
a mill and take a few thou off the bottom to smooth them up and mount them
on a heat sink with heat sink compound. Compared to car use they catch hell running at 6000 RPM 100% of the time.

I was wrong about the overheat RX8 coil safety feature. The silly coil has no
smart IC with built in safety features in it other than a simple transistor.
It is always a good idea for a smart IC as no telling what people will to to the
coil once they have it out of the engine compartment.

I'll bet there is something in the Nippon Denso coil that does this.

Paul Lamar