why is electrical detionation called that? isnt it the stuff on the end of the ignighter that sets it off?

It isnt really detonation unless there is a blasting cap on the end. If it is the powdery stuff, it is electrical deflagration, so I guess they call it that to sound smarter or something.

well basically they call it an electrical detonator because it does infact detonate but on a very small scale even when the pyrodex on the end of the thing lights it is in fact detonating but on a very low scale heres what happnes

current passes through wires that then pases through the resitor the resitor gets hot and ignites the pyrodex and inturn detonates on a low level making it so your main comp ignites

I just call it electrical ignition because that's what it is. It's only electrical detonation with a proper high explosive charge and blasting cap.

For common usage, though, the terms are interchangeable.

~Zero