Does anyone have info about protecting solar cell from EMP

A: A strong EMP could take out your solar power system. The EMP could melt/fuse anything with the electricity or electronics and it would no longer work. The Russian EMP tests of the early 60's stopped diesel engines and put out street lights; the U.S. EMP test in the early 60's cause street light's to explode and radio stations to go off the air; the solar storm of 1859, known as the Carrington Event, caused telegraphs to arc fire and transformers to explode. These events were before all of todays micro-processors and delicate electronics. Depending on how strong the EMP is, it could damage solar panels and their controls.

To prevent an EMP from damaging electrical components and electronics, you need a Faraday Cage. A Faraday Cage is basically a metal box that prevents any electrical pulse from reaching your components. Some people use metal ammo boxes (with an interior non-conductive liner) or you can leave your electronics in the original packaging and wrap the box with aluminum foil.

But if you have anything out of the box, in use, with electricity running through it, an strong EMP will almost surely fry it.

My biggest concern is not knowing how to determine when the right time will be to bug out. We're still building our initial reserves (90 days totally self reliant) for the most likely scenario of another Hurricane Ike. What we learned from Ike is that whatever you have when it hits is what you're stuck with for a while. Although you can plan/hope to become somewhat mobile after a week or so, you'd want to sit tight to avoid unnecessarily burning gasolilne.

Given that we will most likely be limited to traveling by vehicle for the bug-out, should I change our strategy to 30 days self reliant and then cache our long term supplies at the BO location?

Lots of good questions and info. But right now have to hunt for the answers.

AnnaMouse

http://tinyurl.com/6ns4to