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will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????

 
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 985286
United States
06/11/2010 04:25 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
If a solar panel is hooked up to any kind of electrical device for running it the answer is no because the EMP will destroy the electrical equipment that is running the solar panel, it won't destroy the solar panel itself but the power source for it would be fried.

Ah, the Power Source for Solar Panels is the SUN.. hello?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 985286

Ah, the Power Source for Solar Panels is LIGHT.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 999983
United States
06/11/2010 11:11 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
i think the protection you seek is a farday cage - could be wrong !

Faraday cage can't work the object needs to be isolated air tight meaning no air molecules are allowed in!

Once it is sealed with a non conductive isolator and made air tight a faraday cage or any metal cage will do as the electrons are trapped above the isolation and conducted trough the metal or copper cage....

But a copper cage in open air without any isolator surrounding the item you wan't to protect won't do.
 Quoting: resistor 956398

bsflag
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 999983
United States
06/11/2010 11:13 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
The cheapest FARADAY CAGE you can buy for your electronics....

[link to www.dreamstime.com]

 Quoting: Burt Gummer


clappa
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 1083241
United States
08/29/2010 02:15 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 1083241
United States
08/29/2010 02:16 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 1083241
United States
08/29/2010 02:18 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
bump
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 1079391
United States
08/29/2010 02:27 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Excellent question!! I need to know the same thing. In researching I found this.

[link to www.endtimesreport.com]
Super Petey
User ID: 1304320
United States
03/19/2011 02:38 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
You already have a faraday cage in your house. It's called a microwave oven. That's why the window has metal covering with all the little holes to see thru. The holes are smaller than the wave length of the microwave, therefore the microwaves can''t get out and make you dinner also.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 9204789
Netherlands
02/22/2012 09:04 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
So what we want is a four inch thick lead shield which can let sunlight through

Problem solved.... no where can I get one of those ?
jim
User ID: 12140240
United States
03/27/2012 06:44 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
So existing off the grid systems like Trinity’s are screwed. Buy the system, wrap in foil, ground and wait for the lights to go out
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 553745


The air has nothing to do with an EMP or a severe solar storm. The gentleman that said a faraday cage is correct. you can build your own using plastic and tin foil. you can even use a large galvanized garbage can, while still individually wrapping the items in tin foil. However, grounding becomes very technical, you are best off not grounding anything at all. do small individual wrappings of electronics, even your solar panels. You can also go to home depot and buy aluminum screening, it is an excellent source for a faraday cage, the small holes do not effect it at all. As long as the foil or the screening is joined together everywhere. It's not about air getting in, it's about waves getting in, air will always be in the packages. It is best to wrap things in plastic, like bubble wrap or saran wrap, then shield it with foil or screen, two layers of foil are not recommended unless you repeat step one again and use another layer of plastic then another layer of foil. Do not use a garbage bag inside the galvy garbage can, line it with cardboard and bubble wrap. Solar panels have not been around long enough and the technology changes, there simply have not been enough tests, they will most likely survive, the charge controller and inverter will not, disconnect in the event of an emergency and use the above methods to wrap them up, good to have spares. The wiring outside is also subject to damage. You can obtain aluminum hand cloth and wrap the wires up, and any long lengths between inverter, and charge controller. You can use the tin foil and plaice method if you can't find the cloth, it's hard to find. Disconnect the batteries if you can in all your systems, generators, car, and solar and wind arrays. All should be fine after the event. Anyone that has power after such an unfortunate event will have a luxury few others will have.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 12140240
United States
03/27/2012 06:55 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
You already have a faraday cage in your house. It's called a microwave oven. That's why the window has metal covering with all the little holes to see thru. The holes are smaller than the wave length of the microwave, therefore the microwaves can''t get out and make you dinner also.
 Quoting: Super Petey 1304320


That is correct, most microwaves make great faraday cages! problem... the power cable, it should be an old microwave, you must cut the power cord on it, it will act as a perfect antenna and induce electrical energy into the microwave during an event. If you want a workable microwave after such an event, go find a cheap one with a mechanical dial timer, they're still out there. The only function that will break on a microwave due to a solar storm or EMP will be the electronic timers. Which will obviously render the unit un-usable.
If you still have generator / solar / battery back up power, a microwave could prove to be a valuable commodity, no gas, no propane, worth having one!
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 13353809
Australia
03/27/2012 07:01 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
For read later.

hf
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 354026
United States
03/27/2012 09:07 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
The Electomagnetic destruction from a solar eruption only affects long wires (ie powerlines)... so little or no effect on an "off grid" solar setup. The EMP from a nuclear pumped EMP weapon basically can affect a city or other large installation, but probably not the whole country, although transients may be induced in long powerlines , once again, the "off grid" solar setup is ok unless you are say within 100 miles of "ground zero"

The answer is build only an "off grid" solar system and use the best lightning arrestors you can afford. Damage from nearby or direct lightning strike is by far the most likely cause of damage.

A solar event can cause a nationwide power outage, perhaps overwhelming the capacity of the system to repair itself. When this happens, you will be glad you have some off grid power. if you have an "on grid" system (the kind that is hooked up all the time and pumps power back to the grid) this system will be destroyed by solar CME and that kind of system usually doesn't even work when the power is out!
HisEyesRopen

User ID: 9080511
United States
03/27/2012 09:24 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Here are some websites that deal with EMP. Happy reading

[link to www.unitedstatesaction.com]

[link to www.wbdg.org]

[link to standeyo.com]

[link to www.empcommission.org]
Bowyn Aerrow

User ID: 12560157
United States
03/27/2012 09:49 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
The solar panels themselves (The cells that collect light and convert to electricity) will be unaffected by EMP.

The support systems, controllers, governors, converters, these are subject to harm to being converted into scrap material depending on their function and if they are hardened or not.

Hardening devices is relatively easy to extremely difficult depending on the device. There are many military outlet stores have a few hardened electronic goods.

To demonstrate how easy it is to shield stuff from EMP. Take an old microwave oven (with door intact) remove the electronics. Replace all metal exterior pieces. Open the door, put your cellphone inside. Your cell phone, even if it is on waiting for the next call is now protected from EMP.

Cars are actually partially hardened from EMP. One, the engine compartment is surrounded by metal, thus most of the important electronics are shielded. Secondly, cars are grounded to themselves and isolated from the ground with rubber - a great insulator. If you car has plastic or fiberglass skin, you are screwed.

My House is EMP shielded. I have aluminum siding and metal screens attached to aluminum frames that grounds to the metal siding that is all grounded. Even my roof has metal (that is grounded) any EMP will go around my house and go to ground, everything inside is protected. This also means I have to go outside to use the cell phone since reception is nearly nonexistent, the best I get is one bar.

Since your solar equipment will, most likley, be in metal boxes and casing, if your ground all of that properly its protected from most EMP. up to a limited amount of strength.

Trust me, if the EMP tied to a CME event is able to disturb your electronics in simple metal casing, the earth has lost is ozone layer and things are going to be far worse than you can imagine. Few things will survive that and having your solar collector giving you power is the least of your worries.
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The Starbuckian

User ID: 1373173
Puerto Rico
03/27/2012 10:49 PM

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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Solar panels are the easiest thing in the world to fix. Sugar water mixed with urine will naturally repair the cells by recrystallizing them. You can even set them on fire and urine/sugar water will make them work again.
 Quoting: Dr. Monroe 958499


Don't forget the peanut butter. Has to have the peanut butter. Just goop it right in and dry it in the microwave oven, just to make sure you have no further worries. burnit
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 13805463
United States
04/04/2012 02:24 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
great news the only cars that you will see on the road after a emp is jay lenos private collection,..low-riders,..and your local elks lodge parade caravan!
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 24547550
United States
09/27/2012 11:06 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
I've been doing a lot of research on emp or a solar flare disaster and what I found was this...

No solar power will not work because it uses a micrchip to re-power and that would be instantly fried.

Water is not as big of an issue as you may think. Surely it is needed for survival, but there are many places such as a hot water tank that people would not think to look to as a reservoir. The hardest thing to find will be food and medical supplies that are suppose to be taken daily or that need refridgeration.

The only way to protect electronics is by having them in a ground box called a "harden". Thick lead will not suffice.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 24125263
Greece
09/28/2012 12:08 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
The solar panels themselves (The cells that collect light and convert to electricity) will be unaffected by EMP.

The support systems, controllers, governors, converters, these are subject to harm to being converted into scrap material depending on their function and if they are hardened or not.

Hardening devices is relatively easy to extremely difficult depending on the device. There are many military outlet stores have a few hardened electronic goods.

To demonstrate how easy it is to shield stuff from EMP. Take an old microwave oven (with door intact) remove the electronics. Replace all metal exterior pieces. Open the door, put your cellphone inside. Your cell phone, even if it is on waiting for the next call is now protected from EMP.

Cars are actually partially hardened from EMP. One, the engine compartment is surrounded by metal, thus most of the important electronics are shielded. Secondly, cars are grounded to themselves and isolated from the ground with rubber - a great insulator. If you car has plastic or fiberglass skin, you are screwed.

My House is EMP shielded. I have aluminum siding and metal screens attached to aluminum frames that grounds to the metal siding that is all grounded. Even my roof has metal (that is grounded) any EMP will go around my house and go to ground, everything inside is protected. This also means I have to go outside to use the cell phone since reception is nearly nonexistent, the best I get is one bar.

Since your solar equipment will, most likley, be in metal boxes and casing, if your ground all of that properly its protected from most EMP. up to a limited amount of strength.

Trust me, if the EMP tied to a CME event is able to disturb your electronics in simple metal casing, the earth has lost is ozone layer and things are going to be far worse than you can imagine. Few things will survive that and having your solar collector giving you power is the least of your worries.
 Quoting: Bowyn Aerrow


if you have one bar signal you are dead meat..the EMP will pass
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 24425386
United States
09/28/2012 01:16 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Alot of good replies on emp. Can we consider batteries! What effect will emp have on batteries?
Fred
User ID: 24397363
United States
09/28/2012 01:25 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Nothing small is impacted by solar EMP. Its too low frequency. Your generator, solar panels, car will all be ok.

Nuclear EMP is a bit more iffy, small and simple would likely be ok. Charge controllers in a metal box I suspect will make it. Complex is another question, some computerized cars would fail. Some could be "rebooted" others would be simply dead.

Old fashioned cars without fancy electronics, probably no problem.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 24547419
United States
09/28/2012 01:32 AM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
so you'd have to protect everything till after the event
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 553745


OP to cut through all this BS goto [link to www.empcommission.org]
Covers everything....
bigdon12
User ID: 30155954
United States
12/17/2012 02:27 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
what i did was i put all my batter in a 20 foot sea container it's incase in the container so
the panels are outside ever thing batter are
potect
katballoo

User ID: 30338102
Canada
12/19/2012 07:54 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Just looking into back up plans and got to wondering?
 Quoting: just wondering 553745


If you go onto youtube you can find out how to make a faraday cage out of a metal garbage can. Basically, it has to be an airtight lid that fits the can. The metal can has to be lined with cardboard inside...also line the inner lid. You can then put in any of your small electronics, such as laptops, radios, batteries, etc. The way that he tested it, was to put in a radio that was on, and when he closed the lid, it wouldn't work because it wasn't receiving the frequency. My hubby and I made a couple of them for our electronics. Hope this helps!
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 22151483
United States
12/19/2012 09:03 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Minimal protection will shield an EMP. They're not really that effective tbh, why do you think they're never used and easily hardened against?

EMP is a overrated piece of shit. Even when we tested Starfish Prime over the Pacific that gave Hawaii SOME failure, most if not all systems went back online. GLP basement dwellers lover their EMP horror stories, but they're all bull shit!
Randall
User ID: 42350209
United States
08/28/2013 03:54 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
All of my solar controllers and storage are underground (Encased in 8” Concrete) with an interior Faraday cage.
I believe my system could survive a EMP.
Children of the Atom

User ID: 45801406
United States
08/28/2013 03:59 PM
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Re: will solar panels survive solar flare or EMP????
Just looking into back up plans and got to wondering?
 Quoting: just wondering 553745


The big issue with panels previously were damage from solar radiation exposure. It degrades the components and eventually need replacing. Over the last five years or so, companies have worked diligently to come up with solutions to this problem because if left unchecked, solar panels would be replaced on a yearly basis which is simply absurd. Some breakthroughs are pushing the mark around 4-5 years in optimal conditions. I would say that if a large amount of energy hit the panels or direct exposure could potentially damage them.

Last Edited by Children of the Atom on 08/28/2013 04:00 PM





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