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New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electronics http://www.thegoldenthread.info/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=2590 |
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Author: | rutsuyasun [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:25 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electronics |
Thanks, Selene! You gave me some great ideas. I have an old filing cabinet too. I had forgotten about wrapping the electronics first before putting in the metal container, and the blankets and cold bags are terrific ideas. I am buying some tomorrow. (I already have a stash of the blankets, but I need those for "people" emergencies so will get more for Faraday uses.) |
Author: | Selene [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:10 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electronics |
Hi, Rutsy Since we could have only a very short warning of an EMP event, my trusty filing cabinet has an already- emptied drawer, labelled "EMP Safety Only" (to prevent DH from using for files), and contains: - My list of things that need packing away- and their current locations in the house - saves time and panic - I can give the list to DH to gather - A few old cotton pillowcases and some large plastic bags, garbage bags - A fresh roll of aluminum foil (should be two, perhaps... ) - Some mylar thermal space blankets and hot/cold bags in case the drawer gets full - a few already foil wrapped (and labelled) electronic items under long term storage, including blank thumb drives, camera cards, etc. Cheers, Selene |
Author: | Selene [ Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:39 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electronics |
The X-Class solar flare of Feb 14 (2011) with an accompanying CME (coronal mass ejection) wasn’t strong enough - or not aimed at the Earth, I’m not sure which – so it didn’t cause any damage to electronics via EMP. But the prospect made for a good ‘fire drill’ for my EMP protection system: an empty drawer in an old metal filing cabinet, stocked with: • a few old pillowcases (for insulation), • a roll of aluminum foil and • a few mylar survival blankets (for wrapping large objects that won’t fit into the drawer) • a list of all household items with chips that will need protecting: laptops, cameras, phones, external hard drives, modems and wireless LAN, car keys, wind-up shortwave radio (yes, it has electronics) etc etc Result and learning? • One drawer might not be large enough for everything.... • Some items ‘wander’: can’t always locate stuff quickly • Some items should perhaps become ‘long term residents’ in the EMP drawer – we don’t use them every day • Remember to unplug power cords from the units to avoid an ‘antenna’ problem: the cord acting as an EMP-magnet • Re-connecting wireless etc hook-ups will be faster if I color-code the connections – this is important because if EMP/solar activity is to increase, probably, then we’ll be stashing stuff on a regular basis – and re-connecting should be fast and easy or you’ll get lazy about ‘crying wolf’ and stop doing it. Remember, if a really bad EMP wipes out you stuff, it will also wipe out all the replacements you were hoping to get from your Electronic Big Buy store: that stuff in boxes isn’t EMP protected either! Cheers, Selene |
Author: | simple simon [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:50 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
I was discussing this topic with someone at work who asked about gamma rays, which he said are different to microwaves and might therefore pass through the protective screens used with microwave ovens. Does anyone know? I ask because I have an old microwave oven which no longer works and I was able to persuade others here to let me have it rather than throw it out. (thankfully no-one asked me *why* I wanted it ) Simon |
Author: | Sky [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:42 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
Cool question Simon. That microwave will certainly be an asset for emp's wanting to "take-out" your electronic materials. As far as gamma rays go, they will penetrate most materials that are not thick enough to absorb their energy. That's why they can be carcenogenic if too much is absorbed. As far as my knowledge goes, only electromagnetic sources are stopped in the Faraday setup, such as radio and microwaves, which are the damaging element for electronics. I suppose if you bomb a hard drive with too much gamma rays it will also be destroyed in some way. We get too little from Stellar sources to have that effect I think. |
Author: | L2L [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:37 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
How about wrapping the microwave in tinfoil as added protection.? |
Author: | rutsuyasun [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:12 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
Reminder to self: check reliable source daily to get warning of impending EMP! I just signed up for NOAA's email alert notification which will send immediate notice of alerts, warnings, watches, forecasts, and summaries (helpful for those with occasional memory lapses!). Here's the link for anyone interested who hasn't already thought of this, which I'm sure most have. https://pss.swpc.noaa.gov/LoginWebForm. ... bForm.aspx edited to add: There is a "weather" website that has a lot of information and links in one place which I often go to rather than fumbling around to remember where to look for something. Here's that link: http://www.weathergeneration.com/ |
Author: | Sky [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:33 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
L - I think a microwave disconnected from a power source is a well sufficient Faraday system for protection. Gamma rays fly through foil like its cling wrap! It's the electrically charged particles that will do the damage to our electronics. Ruts - as I understand from my insights to our risks, I believe the Sun or a stellar body erupting to be our greatest threat from EMP pulse risk. If you check out the science, a massive eruption from the Sun takes only eight minutes to reach the earth. I don't think we are going to be fast enough to stop that frying most exposed things including our bodies. Hence all the underground bases and cities.... Then there is the Electromagnetic Null Zone we are going to pass through, causing our Earth's outer protection to be "Switched Off". That's a big Hmmmmm! What happens to our brain functions which are magnetic! Big Hmmmm? Faith is my armour! |
Author: | rutsuyasun [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:51 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
Yikes! Sky, then I think Selene is right to keep things we don't use daily, like a crank shortwave radio, in permanent hibernation (i.e. homemade Faraday cage), along with battery charger, thumb drives that we aren't using etc. If the 8 minute zap hits us, then goodbye to most of modern man anyway; there probably wouldn't be any transmitters to send a signal to listen to with the rescued radio... So what is it that we will get warnings about where there would be time to rush around and put stuff in their cages? Solar flares? Filaments erupting or would that be an immediate effect? Never mind, I have some research to do. I know I can look this up and I will, but if you have a quick answer... how large an area would such a quick-actiong solar eruption affect? It can't be the entire globe - would it be anyplace where the sun is shining at the time? or a more limited area? TIA |
Author: | Sky [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:53 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: New info on EMPs & Faraday cage protection for electroni |
Goodness Ruts - whatta question. I believe that whole countries can be taken out. It would be the sun facing side of the planet when the biggies go off! Ed Dames did a good job of explaining this in "The Kill Shot" which is a well circulated movie he did a while back. Patrick Geryl also gets into this in his 'Survive 2012' web page I think. |
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