Posted on 04/10/2013 6:45:54 AM PDT by Mr. K
The reality of protecting all electronic equipment against EMP from a nuclear explosion over our shores is becoming imminent. We now live in perilous times.
The information to follow on building "Faraday cages" is timely indeed. A single atmospheric nuclear detonation releases enough electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to equal 100,000 volts per square centimeter on the ground. A single detonation 200 to 400 miles over the center of the continental United States would fry every unprotected computer chip from coast to coast, and from the middle of Canada to the middle of Mexico. And we are now into Solar Cycle 23, with solar flares common and expected to continue until the first of next year. CME's are capable of extreme damage to modern computerized equipment! Sure, we have our windup BayGen radio's and spare lap top computers, but unless electronic equipment is protected from an electromagnetic pulse, they will be fried!
When Einstein and the others first refined and purified uranium, they took time off and studied its properties. That is when they discovered the "rays" that were harmful, as well as the phase transformations. In the course of their work, one of the scientists discovered that simply covering an object with a grounded copper mesh would stop virtually all electromagnetic radiation, whether proton or neutron. Obviously, they had to protect their monitoring equipment! Thus was born the "Faraday cage."
The copper mesh, like 1 inch chicken wire, worked well in large uses, like covering buildings, and it is still in use today: FEMA headquarters buildings are dome-shaped earth-bermed structures, and under the earth is a copper mesh that extends out from the base and is secured by grounding rods.
As an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) travels to earth, whether from a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a nuclear detonation in the atmosphere, it hits and runs along electrical power lines as well, building up voltage and amperage, which is what happened during the last solar storm a dozen years ago, blowing out transformers and leaving 6 million people in eastern Canada without power for weeks.
To prevent that problem, if you have a hard-wired generator, the wiring from the generator to the house should run in conduit that is grounded. The generator itself can have the frame grounded for added insurance, but that ground wire MUST be insulated and run to a different ground rod well away from the ground rod for building and conduit!
With radio's and smaller appliances, a Faraday cage can be built by using two cardboard boxes: one should fit tightly inside the other, and the item to be covered should itself fit reasonably well inside the smaller box. That is about the most work involved--finding the right size boxes! The outer box is then covered with aluminum foil or Mylar, as from a cheap "space blanket." A grounding wire is then taped to the foil. I then cover the foil with black 6 mil plastic, taped securely in place, to protect the foil from ripping. At the end of the ground wire I attach a cheap small alligator clip from Radio Shack. The item to be protected is placed inside the inner box, which acts as insulation from the outer box, and any EMP hitting the foil and is bled away by the ground wire.
Some medium sized electrical equipment can also easily fit into boxes covered with foil for EMP protection. My laptop computer, for example, fits easily into a Faraday box made from a box that held reams of paper: the entire lid is removable, allowing easy access to the laptop in its case, but is safely stored when not in use.
For larger items which cannot be boxed, such as living room TV sets, etc, I tape a Mylar space blanket to a piece of 6 mil black plastic sheet, using double-sticky tape every foot or so to make sure the Mylar stays in place (it is slippery). I leave a 2 inch edge of black plastic showing all around the space blanket, and while taping down the edges I put on a short lead of ground wire. When it appears that EMP or CME's are on the way, the blanket can be draped over the appliance, the alligator clip attached to a small, unobtrusive ground wire behind the cabinet, and any electromagnetic radiation will be diverted to the ground wire. Very cheap, simple, and once done, items can be "draped" for protection very quickly indeed. And the plastic blankets fold up neatly for storage, ready for use when needed.
The time to build Faraday cages or blankets is NOW, as when they are actually needed it will be far too late. Each box should be labeled on the ends and the top for the exact appliance they were built for, to eliminate any confusion when they must be protected in a hurry. Any electrical appliances not in use should be stored in the Faraday cage, where they will be kept clean, neat, in a known location, and protected against any sudden EMP surge.
“Conduit comes in aluminum, steel (RGS), and plastic.”
Your right about the plastic, It’s actually gray PVC. Of course it doesn’t conduct at all so it would do no shielding.
Also, you will find that a conductor will also shield a changing magnetic field (like a pulse). A moving magnetic field will induce electric current in the metal (eddy currents) and the current combined with the resistance in the metal will produce heat. Think of those counter-top electric ranges that heat up a metal pan yet are cold to the touch.
“How about my Airstream travel trailer?”
Good idea.
Gray PVC is the most common but not the only non-metallic conduit available. Some facilities will run different colors for different circuits, such as light blue for intrinsically safe circuits. I have also installed black fiberglass conduits as well.
I have used the aluminum in industrial facilities in areas not likely to be damaged by moving equipment, but only at the client's request. It is not my preference.
Something that everyone should consider in regards to EMP are safes. Do you own a gun safe? Is the lock electronic or mechanical?
If you have a gun safe full of your SHTF weaponry, and EMP fries the electronic lock just when you need access to them, that might be a problem.
I’ve noticed that one of the manufacturers is now offering safes with electronic locks that have a manual backup/override, so I’m not the only one thinking about this.
” Unfortunately the government will not permit me to obtain more than a 30 day supply on a refill because this medicine is abused by trainers and athletes.”
I have the same problem with my spouse’s medication. I suggest you abuse the system yourself and get extra. In our case we get a 90 day supply by getting the Med’s by mail.
I have reservations about this guy also. It seems he assumes you will be at ground zero of the blast. I have worked at hardened commutations places that seem to have a different take. I don’t think the 1” chicken wire would shield much high frequency. Some electronic places were wallpapered with solid copper with soldered seams for shielding. I suspect that the truth would be more classified information and that what we hear is more conjecture.
bfl
Good idea with the Airstream. You’d want to have conductive screens or covers over the windows. Not sure how much energy could get through the floor.
I CLEARLY stated that I was not an electrician and that someone with electrical knowlege should PLEASE correct me if i was wrong.
You may know what you are talking about but you certainly could use a lesson or two in polite discourse.
a$$ hole.
Yeah, I did notice that...
Electrons and Protons are NOT the same as EMP
Do some research into natural supplements is my only suggestion about that.
I used to take a lot of pills that I stopped taking once I started eating herbs and spices.
I am sorry I dont have anything better to suggest.
An excellent question for which there isn't much of an answer. There probably won't be any transmitters for a while. But I am reminded of something amusing. There once was a thread about some nice pre-cast bomb shelters that are on the market, and one of the advertising pictures had some guy who had fashioned a living room inside of one, complete with a large-screen TV. "Why?" was the question most of the commenters asked.
Armageddon will *not* be televised.
Thanks for posting.
I’ve heard my 19-year old talk about this, how everything will fried by an EMP and that we must build Faraday Cages to protect our electronics.
Didn’t mean a thing at the time.
19-year old is studying math/physics/engineering at a local university and understands these things, unfortunately, I, his mother, do not!!
A faraday cage is simple to understand.
The electricical goes AROUND the metal that is encasing something, similar to how water goes around a rock in the middle of a stream.
Its that simple
Choosing a copper RFI shielding mesh
Radio frequency shielding and Faraday construction can be accomplished with three popular copper meshes. 16 mesh .011inch wire diameter has a high airflow but the lowest shielding effectiveness. 22 mesh .015 inch wire diameter is specified by the U S government Tempest program. It is a very sturdy mesh which still has good airflow but than 16 mesh. 100 mesh .0045 inch wire diameter is the finest practical copper shielding mesh. It has restricted airflow but is quite effective into the higher frequencies.
25 types of mesh are sold here: http://www.twpinc.com/wire-mesh/TWPCAT_3
“Always wondered if the charge from the strike did it, or if the flash was so bright it generated a spike of current from the panel that caused it. Replaced the diod and all was well.”
EMP is created by a lightning strike. The diode went first because it was the weak link. If you had an inline fuse, it probably would have blown instead of the diode.
This guy doesn't really know what he's talking about regarding ionizing radiation. If you think a Faraday cage will protect you from neutrons, then would you be interested in beach front property in Louisiana for sale cheap?
“Its that simple”
I guess... If it works for you, but it’s really not that simple.
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