The magic EMP-proof box
Even though U.S. scientists have known about electromagnetic pulses for quite some time – and, in fact, intentionally created them in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the Cold War – it’s been more recently that EMPs have entered the conversation for ordinary Americans. There is rising concern that a rogue nation or terrorist organization could seriously disrupt our power grids by detonating a nuclear weapon high above the United States or setting off an e-bomb that could do much damage on a more local level.
So isn’t it strange that a device with the capability of blocking or at least significantly reducing the effects of an EMP was invented prior to the Civil War? That’s when English scientist Michael Faraday created a cage that blocked external static and non-static electric fields. This enclosure was formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material. Its operation depends on the fact that an external static electrical field will cause the electric charges within the cage to redistribute themselves to cancel the field’s effects in the cage’s interior.
It may not be realistic to build a Faraday cage around a country, or even a neighborhood, for that matter. But within your home it could protect your most valuable electronic equipment, including computers, during an EMP attack. Check out this explanation to learn how this device can protect electronic equipment from lightening strikes and electrostatic discharges.
Have you ever used or tried to build a Faraday cage? If so, let me know about your experience with that. Do you think that the technology that goes into the creation of a Faraday cage could ever be used to protect larger areas from EMPs? And why isn’t the government using this information? Hope to hear from you.
Recommended Today
EMP Survival Guide: Did you know that defense experts are warning that this “weird” device could wipe out 280,000,000 Americans? In fact, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich wrote an op-ed piece recently for the Washington Post warning about the deadly threat from EMPs. I highly recommend you check out this video that reveals the #1 way you and your family can survive this deadly attack.
A microwave oven IS a Faraday Cage. Don’t throw away the broken one.
I have a metal shop frame and chicken wire and simulation covered with sheet metal. Is there a.way to ground shop to make it EMP safe
It’s not impossible. Here’s a simple explanation of the some of the thinking: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/building-a-faraday-cage/. I will caution you that you need to have all of the edges meet around your “box” to create a full circuit that will flow the pulse around your shop – Your floor must be done as well. and earth grounding it is helpful.
Wouldn’t a washer or dryer work as a Faraday if unplug? I did read that wrapping in double foil is a good protection. Your thoughts?
I think it depends on what you mean by “protection”. When we were developing our EMP protection bags (coming to you in December, 2014!) we used copper mesh, considered to be an excellent material, and discovered upon testing in a real EMP testing facility that it’s much harder to actually protect against a serious EMP pulse than we had anticipated. We failed and re-designed multiple times in order to come up with a design that actually worked. This whole process leads me to believe that foil wrap or using outdated appliances are actually unlikely to work with a strong pulse.
Are ammo cans not a ready-made FC? Find one that will fit your radio, Kindle, HAM, etc and make sure the devices are insulated – even the corrugated boxes they come in will likely work, so long as the device isn’t touching the metal ammo can. You likely won’t get your whole computer in, but can cover the backups and essentials as well as comfort items for post EMP comforts.
Is there a way to protect yoir vehicle from an emp attack?
A large Faraday cage would do it, but it’s a large and useless expense. The roads will all be jammed with dead vehicles, and the gas stations won’t be functional (since the pumps will be totally incapacitated), so even best case you will only be able to drive as far as your gasoline will take you. And even if you could get gas, you would have a struggle at every stop to keep possession of the car. Likely it would be confiscated by armed people of some kind.
This is a great topic! My comment on a local mainstream media news site was “content disabled” today so it is nice to be able to re-post it in this much friendlier forum. Basically people with sleeping problems have reported on YouTube much better sleep through one designed to protect them in bed.
So it may be you can save your money next time and build a FARADAY CAGE to sleep in better than any “Sleep Train” Fancy pants over priced mattress for getting a better nights sleep.
Not only can man-engineered emps cause massive disruption, our sun produces emps as well that also reek havoc on earth if the flares are directed at earth. that is something else to watch.
Will a ground strap on a 2001 S10 Blazer protect the computer? Please send the answer to my e-mail. thanks
Nope. But taking the battery completely out might.
would equipment be safe if stored inside a steel shipping container?
I built a Faraday cage a couple years ago after I retired. Needed something to do. I utilized an old metal shelf I had laying around. Wrapped it in window screen wire, built a screen door for it, and grounded it. Tested it by placing a radio inside and then closed the door. It worked, nothing but static came from the radio with door closed. Had some friends that thought I was nuts (most of them), none-the-less they thought it was pretty cool. Located it in my garage and I have all my electronic equipment in it. Even though I will probably not be around because of what we all know causes of an EMP it was still fun to build and test. Great conversation and educational piece.
While working in the electronics field we used 10′ x 10′ rooms that were “wrapped” with copper screens also the doors when closed would electrically be part of the screen.
Aren’t the common anti-static bags that sensitive computer peripherals (such as RAM and hard drives) come in, a type of Faraday cage? If so, I could just buy various sizes and store my external backup drive in it and my laptop when not in use, etc. Here is an example of the type bag I am referring to: http://www.extrapackaging.com/anti-static/zippered.php
No, I don’t think the clear/pink/cloudy type film bags will do the trick. Maybe and I say Maybe, place items in the pink/cloudy type film bags and seal or fold and then place in a matelic type ESD bag (131 type) and fold or seal. This set up would be second best in my electronic experience.
harrya
When I was growing up (some 50 years ago) most houses, garages and barns had lightening rods on the roof with heavy metal ground lines that ran along the roof peak and down to the ground. The lightening rods are now considered antiques and are not often found. Could the use of lightening rods and ground lines be helpful if designing a Faraday cage for a home, and do you think that people should start putting them back on their houses (which would mean someone needs to start making them again).
No…. An EMP would not seek out your lightning rod. It will just blanket the earth/area with a pulse that will instantly put you back to circa 1849.
Needless to say, people will start to die off within hours of this event. There are articles written with just how the die off would progress, and the many many ways that will both surprise and shock you.
Regardless of what you do to protect yourself and your family, do you really think you have much of a chance for survival if you live in or near a big city? There are some movies out there that suggest you don’t really have a prayer any more than someone else. Let’s be realistic. Do you have access to a chopper to fly you elsewhere? Do you have a car like the POTUS does to protect him in hostile countries? Do you have an underground bunker you can safely live in that the neighbors don’t know about, and will you or someone in your family go nuts waiting for the moment to exit? AND, if you don’t have a gun, do you think slingshots, pots and pans and baseball bat’s are going to save you? Come on. Think about it. If you can’t handle chaos, and there will be chaos, you are doomed. Examples of what some have suggested. Grow your own food. Catch and save water. Have a pool for fish. If you live in an apartment, where are you going to do this? I know people that currently live in the country, AND THEY DON’T FEEL SAFE. Only solution is to pray, and maybe it will come out alright for you. There are crowded and blocked freeways in normal times. Do you remember the videos showing cars stacked up exiting from New Orleans? And, do you remember that people died there because they couldn’t escape, and the stadium they went to was a filthy mess? Guns were confiscated. People killed people. Put that on a massive scale and tell me you have all of that covered. Anyway, good luck.
Yea….scary stuff…indeed. 280,000,000 won’t die, but it will be very close to that kind of number.
Forget the movies. Remember that they are fiction. I’m an Electrical Engineer. A Faraday Cage really does work. I’m also a woman and used teeth fingernails and knees to groin to fight off rapists.
Husband doesn’t want firearms in house even though I’m a trained military vet. I’d pit my baseball bat and hardwood cane against any baddie.
With your attitude, why are you even looking at this website?
Well said Trish