How to make an EMP or faraday cage.

Just occurred to me that if what I am asking above is true, then anything plugged into house circuit will be "open" unless the house wiring is in the same cage. If all that is true, then expensive but cleanest solution would be to somehow build cage that covers entire house or at least all the parts of it where electronic stuff is used and/or stored.

Of course there is a Plan B, gotta have one of those. Probably covered elsewhere here, have not searched on it yet, but step one would be to go through your day and write down everything you do that requires electronics. Then step 2 would be to seek out and learn (and acquire all necessary hardware for) the skill set for how it was done before the electric version existed i.e. most of human existence. Finally step 3 would be to practice it enough that you are comfortable with it. Then you will have a comfortable fall back position "in the event"...

Your system will not be able to able to function after an concentrated EMP burst (at least as far as I know, I am sure someone will prove me wrong) either though a maximized solar flare or nuclear blast. Sorry, the solar cells themselves have diodes that act as semiconductors and your entire array serves as one large junction of photodiodes. You simply can't build a faraday cage large enough if your system is like mine. Your only best bet is to keep some on reserve and place them in a home-made faraday cage and store them for after an event. This will also mean you have to have a spare inverter and battery backup that is also protected. Pretty much anything not in a faraday cage that is grounded, will no longer function.

Gazrok mentioned a month or two ago that he was building one large faraday cage, I think from a large shelving cabinet...can't remember if he had problems. Out of respect to him and his family, he's dealing with a personal issue, I'd hold off contacting him, unless he see's this thread before hand. However, maybe in a week, give him a personal message and see what came of his idea. Most of my spare electronics, communication, computers, tvs, monitors...anything with a mother board is placed in different home-made faraday cages as described in the above post. I've made cheap ones and ones that are made from galvanized trashcans. But something as large as protecting my solar panels at home...no chance, just have to accept that they will be part of the casualties of the event.

I've been playing with aluminum wire cloth with openings of 0.4 to 0.5 inches to help protect my panels from hail storms typically, we see about golf ball or baseball size hail during the Spring. I've heard gotten feedback it may provide some EMP protection, but I am not counting on it. I've played aluminum wire cloth on two of my separate arrays, not the one that provides the power to the home. The wire cloth will block about 15 to 25 percent of the sunlight, depending on the angle and how your array is positioned toward the sun.

I know not what you want to hear and maybe their is a second opinion out there. Not to many of us have any data, other than scientific data and what we know of electrical wave currents. So who knows what will happen, I'm just passing on what I've read or asked from some professors who study solar flares for a living.

Thanks Clyde, what I want to hear, really, is the truth so that's good to know. For me I think I am more inclined to work on my Plan B I posted above. Already have some fascination with all that. "Primitive skills" are mostly a heck of a lot of fun...

GeoffreyLevens said:

Thanks Clyde, what I want to hear, really, is the truth so that's good to know. For me I think I am more inclined to work on my Plan B I posted above. Already have some fascination with all that. "Primitive skills" are mostly a heck of a lot of fun...

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Not Clyde, but your welcome. Like I said the theories are just that...no one really knows...scientific models...tests...lab created events prove that some stuff will survive. I certainly would get a second opinion. I've only learned from the books I've read, the people I've talked too and tinkering around my toys...including the 80K project.

I guess it all comes down to several variables, no different than real life...my theory is you try to apply the skills you plan to use in your daily life. Granted, I am not farming yet, nor canning, much to the big teases I get from my friends here, but I've learned a great deal from them and that's important.

As far as primitive skillsets, I guess living in Ecuador affords you much more opportunities to test those "primitive skillsets". For me in Texas, its simply dry 100 degree heat.

Oops, sorry Bob! That is one thing, those primitive skills are not theoretical at all, they are real and they work well. Wherever you are, mountains, dessert, ocean, you just have to research a bit and find out what the true locals did 500 and 1000 years ago and learn to do that. Definitely a much easier way to live in some places than others though and back then people tended to move around more. I used to live in Arizona in mts behind Tucson. My understanding was that the local indigenous people used to move up and down hill quite a distance with the changing seasons, going with temp and weather changes, and also pretty radically changing diet and all sorts of other parts of their lives as the seasons shifted. I would never want to try to duplicate that now, but knowing the skill sets could be a real boon. Even if you only needed one thing from that at some point, it could turn out to be a real life saver.

Gazrok mentioned a month or two ago that he was building one large faraday cage, I think from a large shelving cabinet...can't remember if he had problems. Out of respect to him and his family, he's dealing with a personal issue, I'd hold off contacting him, unless he see's this thread before hand. However, maybe in a week, give him a personal message and see what came of his idea.

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I'm still trying to find a good-sized one for a decent price. Then, the plan is to use aluminum tape to make overlaps for the open edges, along with some other insulators. It isn't difficult really. Just that the idea is to simply use the cabinet to store everyday electronics anyhow, so they are ALWAYS protected from an unexpected EMP, as well as just organized for regular use.

I'll actually make a separate one that has things like flashlights, batteries, spare bulbs, etc. Other supplies that are more of the spare parts variety, etc.

There's a big difference between if we know the EMP is on the way, or if we don't. The cabinet idea is so that if we don't expect it, we'll have some basic electronics, power tools, etc. that will be protected.

would a large aluminiun chest do the works???

Yes, biggest trick is to make sure there's a good seal, as any gap can allow the energy in and fry the contents. That's why I'm using the tape to basically make a gasket. Of course, if you only plan on accessing it post SHTF, then just taping it up, or the garbage can idea works well. I would do that with the spare parts items, but knowing me, I'll need them from time to time, so I better put them in something I can keep accessing, replacing, etc. Not to mention, I'll want to rotate through batteries.

I'm also currently in the process of converting just to LED bulbs in the house. It's an expensive undertaking. How does it relate to EMP you ask? Well, they last longer, so if kept as spares, more usable life. But, eventually I want to make the switch to solar, so since LEDs require WAY less power, can power more lights then. (and save money on the electric bill prior to SHTF).

thanks, that trash can would sit nicely her in its corner
aluminium trunk in my closet..good point about batteries,they do have a life span of something, these small things is something that I forget

this might be a silly question but could you make a house or trailer into a faraday cage? mabe a modded shipping container? maybe with some hepa filters to protect against chemical or biological attacks? im just trying to cover all my bases in case SHTF or maybe i should just build an underground shelter?

The entire inside would have to be insulated from electric currant passing through it.

An underground shelter is always the best solution pretty much, for nearly anything, but not always an option. Or at least, not an economically or sometimes geographically feasible solution. For me, on both of these.

oooo you lucky one...for me it's the trashcan option if I don't find the energy and money to convert my walk-in closet to an emp proof room...if I ever move out from this place my landlord would raise a few eyebrows about it though

For me on both of these, it isn't feasible, hehe. Cost is way too much, and besides, can't go too too deep here in FL. I would love to make a half sunk in fallout shelter though. As long as you have enough concrete, will still do the trick. Big trick is the roof. Has to support concrete (and dirt, as I'd want it cammo with plant life from the air). I've looked into it, but a lot of things to consider.

Gazrok said:

To be honest, the last tests they did, most cars weren't even majorly affected. In essence, an all metal car is a leaky Faraday cage. I'd have to look up the exact percentages, but the Diesels were certainly untouched, and only a small fraction were unable to drive, whereas only a slightly larger percent had just minor electrical issues, but still started and could drive. Granted, the last scaled tests were years ago (2002) and weren't even on a lot of cars. I wouldn't bet much on cars that are more fiberglass or have sophisticated e-brains. Those could be a problem.

Ah, found it. Here's an excerpt to help disprove the myth a bit:

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Silent Bob said:

Your system will not be able to able to function after an concentrated EMP burst (at least as far as I know, I am sure someone will prove me wrong) either though a maximized solar flare or nuclear blast. Sorry, the solar cells themselves have diodes that act as semiconductors and your entire array serves as one large junction of photodiodes. You simply can't build a faraday cage large enough if your system is like mine. Your only best bet is to keep some on reserve and place them in a home-made faraday cage and store them for after an event. This will also mean you have to have a spare inverter and battery backup that is also protected. Pretty much anything not in a faraday cage that is grounded, will no longer function.

Gazrok mentioned a month or two ago that he was building one large faraday cage, I think from a large shelving cabinet...can't remember if he had problems. Out of respect to him and his family, he's dealing with a personal issue, I'd hold off contacting him, unless he see's this thread before hand. However, maybe in a week, give him a personal message and see what came of his idea. Most of my spare electronics, communication, computers, tvs, monitors...anything with a mother board is placed in different home-made faraday cages as described in the above post. I've made cheap ones and ones that are made from galvanized trashcans. But something as large as protecting my solar panels at home...no chance, just have to accept that they will be part of the casualties of the event.

I've been playing with aluminum wire cloth with openings of 0.4 to 0.5 inches to help protect my panels from hail storms typically, we see about golf ball or baseball size hail during the Spring. I've heard gotten feedback it may provide some EMP protection, but I am not counting on it. I've played aluminum wire cloth on two of my separate arrays, not the one that provides the power to the home. The wire cloth will block about 15 to 25 percent of the sunlight, depending on the angle and
how your array is positioned toward the sun.

I know not what you want to hear and maybe their is a second opinion out there. Not to many of us have any data, other than scientific data and what we know of electrical wave currents. So who knows what will happen, I'm just passing on what I've read or asked from some professors who study solar flares for a living.

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This reply seems a bit belated, However I didn't see anything about covering windshield glass. Since I saw evidence in my research that electrons can pass through it that area seems to be vulnerable. I considered an old travel trailer, since they are mostly aluminum to store my back-up solar array. as long as the floor & any openings were covered would seem to be adequate if it,s grounded. Is this true from Your research ?

forager said:

This reply seems a bit belated, However I didn't see anything about covering windshield glass. Since I saw evidence in my research that electrons can pass through it that area seems to be vulnerable. I considered an old travel trailer, since they are mostly aluminum to store my back-up solar array. as long as the floor & any openings were covered would seem to be adequate if it,s grounded. Is this true from Your research ?

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Vehicles like microwave ovens make a poor choice for faraday cage, I have read reports that give conflicting studies on grounding the cage and in most cases it didn't make much difference the cage being grounded or not.

Maverick said:

Vehicles like microwave ovens make a poor choice for faraday cage, I have read reports that give conflicting studies on grounding the cage and in most cases it didn't make much difference the cage being grounded or not.

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Hmm - guess I'll have to do some information digging. I just completed a 6 ft. high 12 x 18 security fence today. It's totally surrounded in steel 2 x 2 chainlink. I was thinking that if I cover the top with an 8 ft. ceiling of Faraday cage it might make a good start.I can store some backup electronics in it but most of the space is dedicated to a hovercraft. I do need to make certain nothing can interfere with the components of it and that it's protected in every way possible, as that's my bug- out vehicle.

you building or buying it???

if I had the money I would go for the viking bandwagen...saw it on tv and it was love on first sight

jontte said:

you building or buying it???

if I had the money I would go for the viking bandwagen...saw it on tv and it was love on first sight

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The hovercraft technology seems to have taken my interest for several years now. I built a few table-top prototypes, the last one was a working model. It seems to function very well so I decided to take it to the next level and build a full size prototype. The design I chose is actually a re-design of the hover-wing, which can be reviewed on u-tube. I'm thinking I might not be stuck on 4 wheels when it comes to traveling on water or swamp-land. They move easily over almost any terrain on an air-cushion up to about 40 mph. Once reaching 45 mph. the short wings take the craft airborne and You have to keep it under 15 ft. altitude above any thing fixed to the ground (i.e. trees, houses, power poles, etc.) That is Flight commission rules for maximum height without pilot certs or aircraft standards. 80- 120 mph. is max speed after becoming air-born.

wow, there ain't gonna be many to be able to catch you in that thing...