Everything You Wanted to Know About EMP

[Applejack]

This is a great one to bring up on EMP's. Some of the sites are still here but a couple seem to have a 404 error code. The good one is still there. Just click on the sites that skyowl has listed in the first post.

[Preppersgab]

Thanks for this Skyowl, You just did us all a great service.

[Applejack]

We actually discussed this in our Christian Emergency Preparedness class; pros and cons on this issue for sure. But, I asked the question, will pacemakers (I have one) and or such equipment be affected? No one knew. I asked my heart doctor and pacemaker tech, they didn't know? I did find the report you talked about on the internet, but was overwhelming information at this point. I'm just going to trust my God either way.

My husband has the pacemaker/defib. now and from my understanding it will not be harmed by an EMP... Though you could to be on the safe side double some foil and tape it over the area where the pacemaker is just for the extra assurance. My husband's heart doctor said it is encased in a protective case but still don't get near a magnet as it will mess it up. I have the foil sized and ready for him because I do want that extra barrier only because I don't think anyone really knows for sure what will happen. But my gut feeling says you will be ok.

[LukeFederline]

This was very informative. I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread.

[Applejack]

Where can you get copper mesh?

[RICHFL]

I was going to write a thread called EMP for Dummies.

Here are three thing people need to understand.

1. Most EMP bags and cages will only protect up to a 40 db blast. (The db is a science term we do not need to go into)

2. Most experts on EMP (Again scientist) expect any man made EMP to be 80 db.

3. So if (2) happens and you have protection at around (1). You loose everything.

4. Multi bags will increase the protection level. But most bags can very easily tear apart. So make sure your bags are at least 7 mm thick!

5. Steel trash cans do not have the protection of copper. Copper is best protection you can get commercially. Line the trash can inside with 100 percent copper mesh to give it more protection..Place your items inside wrapped in 80 dp level bags.

6. What to put into it?

A. Tablet with all your files, manuals, plans, etc. Spare battery's and solar battery chargers.

B. Communication gear including CB, GRMS, Citizen Band radios, and AM/FM/NOAA radios, including rechargeable batteries, and recharges.

C. Other Electronics: What you feel you need to have on hand. Replacement parts, batteries, etc.

[Mike.lesten]

Thanks for this Skyowl, You just did us all a great service.

[Applejack]

I have a couple of solar chargers and I have them in my metal trash can. I have tried them out to make sure they work good. But not knowing if an EMP would effect them I decided to put them in the trash can for protection just in case.

[ZAGran]

If you had a battery charger that ran on solar power that would be a good thing. However does anyone know if an EMP would take out the electronics of the solar powered system? If so which parts? Then you could protect those as well along with directions and replace them. The biggest problem to me is how long do you wait before you do the replacement? maybe keep 2 sets of replacement parts just in case you get the first replacement fried. Knowing what caused the EMP (solar or nuclear) could help about knowing when to repair devices. Of course that may mean having a couple or 3 of cheap sacrificial radios to monitor the news.

[Schneb]

Just a few remarks on what we are discussing about EMPs and CMEs.
Some test were ran by the gov on vehicles back in the 70's or 80's. They found that if the vehicle was running there was more damage. If the ones not running didn't start they would start and run if the battery was disconnected and reconnected.
I would tell where but I can't remember where I found it. I was doing a lot of research that nite.
If you use an old microwave for a faraday cage, be sure to cut the cord off. It will act as an Antenna for the eletrical charge.
One suggested a galvanized garbage can. The one I read said to be sure to completely line the can with cardboard (top bottom and sides) to prevent anything from touching the metal.
Another said that wraping something small (like a am/fm/weather/shortwave radio) you wanted to protect in plastic then heavy duty foil then plastic and another layer of foil and plastic before you put it in the can, although the item probably survive wraped like that without the can.
Protect and keep a computer for your car (you can buy them, I don't know the cost) the same way
Protect and keep enough fuses to replace all in your car. They may be all you need.
Protect and keep extra eletronic parts for your generator
And so on and so forth. Apparently according to this with enough foil and plastic you could protect all your battery operated stuff safe.
Apparently batteries are NOT affected by EMPs .

We actually have a coouple of sites that monitors CMEs and tells how strong and what part of the earth will be affected. Space weather.com and Space weather alerts from SWPC. No links again, I haven't been a member long enough to do a url yet

Bumping this thread (and I'll mention it on the Faraday thread that's currently going) given the discussion of what to put in a Faraday cage.

Seems like a good way to promote a generator would be to toss in a free EMP kit of an extra set of the key circuits and a little guide to installing them. That'd fit with what ZAGran was saying here, a few years ago. And if a scrap yard started to sell the computers and fuses as a packaged item, and put adds on prepper sites, seems like they'd have people lining up.

Heck, they could sell the stuff packages in EMP-proof boxes for an extra $10 or $20 and probably come out well ahead in terms of cost.

What would you pay for the peace of mind that, if it came to an EMP, you'd still have a car? Or a generator?

[myakka]

No! Morse Code is not required anymore. There are 300 questions on HamExam.org, they draw 50 (?) I think, and you have to answer those 50. That's all.

[mtnlioness]

Thanks for the information Mya. I used to dabble in sideband radio and QSL cards when we were able to get excellent skips. It was a blast to be able to talk to Uraguay, the Canary Islands and other far away places. Used frequencies that I probably wasn't supposed to but had a black market President Jackson at the time with a 5/8's ground plain antenna that just seemed to kick butt. Guess it is time to get my rear end legal and fire up some radio time for practice. Having an old radio I hope is enough to protect it from an EMP but sure wish the funds were available to put a second one away for that possible rainy day. Do we have to learn Morse Code? That will screw me up for sure.

Protected by a .357 magnum three days a week, you guess which three!

[myakka]

There is a lot of conflicting information out there about the faraday cages effectiveness. I can say that the emp will be a direct line of sight wave. So it would make sense that if your lid fits over your can well, then maybe ok with no tape?

But I mostly am responding to let you know that www.hamexam.org is a great site where you can study for the exam for free!
And then you can find through your local emergency management a ham club that can give you the test for $15.00

But truthfully, if the world collapses, then no one will be checking your ID :)

[mtnlioness]

I've been looking for morre information on building a faraday cage. Someone told me that a galvanized garbage can would work well but would require taping it completely closed with metal tape. Hmmmm? My husband and I also have the components of a complete ham radio station and want to protect it. Sorry you wonderful people who have licenses...we don't have ours yet. Have also heard that using a metal shed that is grounded will protect the generator as long as the shed and the generator are both grounded independently. ?????? This thread has been interesting. Glad the trouble maker is gone. Thanks in advance for any further information.

[ZAGran]

Just a few remarks on what we are discussing about EMPs and CMEs.
Some test were ran by the gov on vehicles back in the 70's or 80's. They found that if the vehicle was running there was more damage. If the ones not running didn't start they would start and run if the battery was disconnected and reconnected.
I would tell where but I can't remember where I found it. I was doing a lot of research that nite.
If you use an old microwave for a faraday cage, be sure to cut the cord off. It will act as an Antenna for the eletrical charge.
One suggested a galvanized garbage can. The one I read said to be sure to completely line the can with cardboard (top bottom and sides) to prevent anything from touching the metal.
Another said that wraping something small (like a am/fm/weather/shortwave radio) you wanted to protect in plastic then heavy duty foil then plastic and another layer of foil and plastic before you put it in the can, although the item probably survive wraped like that without the can.
Protect and keep a computer for your car (you can buy them, I don't know the cost) the same way
Protect and keep enough fuses to replace all in your car. They may be all you need.
Protect and keep extra eletronic parts for your generator
And so on and so forth. Apparently according to this with enough foil and plastic you could protect all your battery operated stuff safe.
Apparently batteries are NOT affected by EMPs .

We actually have a coouple of sites that monitors CMEs and tells how strong and what part of the earth will be affected. Space weather.com and Space weather alerts from SWPC. No links again, I haven't been a member long enough to do a url yet