Increasing spark...input pls

[fannyj]

Hi guys,

There are a couple of guys down here in SA (Cape Town) who run our cars on the track, full circuit and 1/4mile.
Over the 1/4mile, we clock consistent times ie: 16,1sec
Now here's the funny bit, a new guy (mechanic) pulled down the 400m stretch and clocked 15,7sec. When i approached him i enquired about mods etc. he claimed that he only tweaked his computer box to send a stronger signal (for lack of a better word) to his plug wires. So he claims it creates a bigger / stronger spark. I checked his car for any signs of mods, but didn't find anything..
Would a stronger spark increase performance ? and could it damage your motor in anyway ?

[Andy335Touring]

May be he ment he has chipped it ?

[m-dtech]

ecu only pulses the earth ??

mibby he has connected a flux cappacitor. ?

[Andy335Touring]

[stevetigger]

Stronger spark = more heat;

Surely more heat put into the plugs and leads would damage over time!

[kam-325i]

Stronger spark = more heat;

The heat generated from a spark plug spark is minimal.

Ok, the spark may have 20-30,000 Volts, but very few amps, might even be milliamps.

[m-dtech]

ecu pulses the earth..

differernt coil perhaps or increase in current would draw stronger earth

[stevetigger]

I meant putting more power through a lead would make it hotter!!

[kam-325i]

I meant putting more power through a lead would make it hotter!!

Nah, no real "power" in spark plug voltage. Its amperage that will cause heat.
Use welding arc/spark as an example, the arc will only have around 30-50 volts max, but anything up 350 Amps.

[stevetigger]

Surely a stronger spark will do the plugs no good, they will burn!

[kam-325i]

The heat range of a spark plug reffers to the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel. A "stronger spark" makes for better combustion of the air/fuel mixture.

Overhead power cable from Ironbridge carry around 40,000 Volts, if you was to touch a cable (whilst not making a cuircit) you would find that they might just be warm, thats because there is a very low current (Amps) only around 1-2 Amps at most.

[hoshy]

talking to a few MEB (not sure the new name, GPU maybe?) engineers, touching a live overhead gives a tingle.

[stevetigger]

talking to a few MEB (not sure the new name, GPU maybe?) engineers, touching a live overhead gives a tingle.

Cool, im off to try that one tomorrow!

[fannyj]

thanks guys,

nope, no chip... he said he tweaked some wiring. I touched one of his plug wires while his car was idling and felt a sting... fingertips still blue!

[hoshy]

talking to a few MEB (not sure the new name, GPU maybe?) engineers, touching a live overhead gives a tingle.

Cool, im off to try that one tomorrow!

Just make sure you've got a cheery picker with very big rubber wheels