Quote:
Originally Posted by storm4ce
What will happen to the solar power installations after EMP attack or emission? Will they work or fail? Can someone please clarify this.
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Storm4ce,
Without getting too technical, the whole reason for EMP protection of electronic equipment is that the microcircuit chips used inside these devices usually operate around 5 to 24 volts, and more importantly (critically) in the micro-ampere or nano-ampere current range. That is extremely small electrical currents in circuits that are easily damaged by power surges. To a micro-amp circuit, 1/10th of an ampere surge is the same as a lightning bolt, and just as fatal. EMP's easily overwhelm normal surge protection and A/C power filtering.
I hear frequent discussions about EMP pulses and how to protect electrical appliances and consumer products from them. The information given is usually pretty good and work quite well with one little addendum that I seldom here:
Protected equipment must be isolated. Isolated means that any protected appliance, or PC or whatever, that has cables connected to it for power or for network connections MUST have those cables shielded as well. The simplest way is to unplug the thing and put all the cords inside the protective cage.
For example, having a working PC in a Faraday cage is useless because the pulse energy is so powerful that it will be introduced into the power cord or network cables (the cables acting like an antenna) and flow right through the wall of the cage and into the protected equipment and "click" goes the microcircuit chips that make the thing work.
Before anyone asks, WI-FI antennae will not work in a Faraday cage either or it wouldn't be a Faraday cage. A working Faraday cage stops ALL radio frequency emissions from getting inside, or from getting to the outside.
The only "sure" way of protecting electronic equipment is to completely shield it with all cables pulled in with it or else removed. Protecting the loose cables is only needed if the cables have built in electronic filters, AC-DC adapters or the like, in which case the cables must also be completely within the protected area.
My favorite example of cheap protection for laptop sized electronics, is an empty military metal ammunition can which surplus stores may carry. Wrap the equipment in cotton, then aluminum foil, then place in the can and close the lid. The final protection would be to connect the can to a source of electrical, Earth, ground.
For large PC's, appliances or even vehicles, a walk in or drive in Faraday cage can be built, not real cheap though. And, I mean "cage" with protection on all six sides, to include the floor. It must also be completely isolated. If sheet metal sides are used, no holes for light are allowed. That's why highly conductive mesh screen built into a mosquito netting style shed or booth is the best. You can see through the stuff. Doors must have no air gaps to the outside and must also be strapped over to the rest of the shielding. Don't rely on the metal hinges alone to do the job. Every square inch that is NOT connected or is not "grounded" (like the unstrapped door) is considered "floating" and will not stop a pulse. No wires for lighting, or pipes through the walls are allowed as they will act like antennae and re-radiate the pulse inside the cage, defeating its purpose.
Installing electronics and keeping it EMP protected was one part of my job in the USMC and where my experience comes from. Many military applications have two input power supplies. The one on-line takes the whole EMP pulse and bites the dust. Operators throw a switch to put an isolated backup power supply to on-line, power up and go. Fail safe as that is, few can afford it.
No links to provide. Best to you.
For the cause.