a system is provided for initiating a blasting cap wherein pulsating light energy is converted to electrical energy . an optical coupler couples the source of energy to a remote firing arrangement to transfer the generated pulsating light energy to the firing arrangement . an electrical connection connects the firing arrangement to an ignition resistor in a detonator . thus , the generated light energy is converted to electrical energy and is transferred to the ignition resistor , the transferred electrical energy being the firing energy for the ignition resistor .