spark intensity and grounding

[stanzeman17]

hello,

I have built a test bench for my megajolt/EDIS 6 setup. It works a treat. However, I find it weird that lifting the ground off the spark plugs produces no effect.
It looks like the spark plugs can be grounded or not, it makes no difference in the spark.
Isn't that weird? Has anyone noticed that before?

[brentp]

What you are likely observing is the HV current flowing from one coil pack terminal, down one spark plug, jumping the first plug's gap, flowing to the other spark plug ground, jumping the other plug's gap, and back to the other terminal of the coil pack. This is how it works for every coil pack 'pair' in your EDIS 6 setup. As a result, system ground is not a factor with a wasted spark setup.

That said, we're assuming all of the spark plugs attached to a common piece of metal- as in screwed into a piece of angle iron?

[stanzeman17]

Dear Brent,

Thank you for your quick response. I had never thought about it that way but it makes sense. However, I guess connecting the ground should maximise the voltage drop in the gap and therefore generate a stronger spark. Maybe it is something that can't be seen by a naked eye...

[Oliver Sedlacek]

If one plug doesn't spark properly, the system wont be balanced and the common plug return point could reach a very dangerous voltage. Don't risk it, leave the return point grounded!