by smallpoxgirl » Wed 15 Nov 2006, 05:52:27
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nwildmand', 't')o my knowledge emps effect resistors, capacitors etc. switches should make it through it. effects may be seen on instruments of any age, voltage and fuel guages come to mind.
EMP just basically introduces stray voltage into the circuit. The longer the wire, the higher the voltage. Electric grids, telephone lines, etc (and anything connected to them) are the hardest hit. Next in line is anything that is super sensitive to voltage anomalies....i.e. semiconductors. Resistors and capacitors aren't going to be particularly susceptible. From what I've read, the impact on cars is pretty uncertain. While the folk lore is that automotive electronics would be knocked out, in all likelyhood they would probably be spared. The metal of the car forms a faraday cage. For the same reason that persons inside cars are protected from lightning, electronics inside cars would probably be mostly spared from EMP.
If you have something that you are worried about shielding from EMP, protecting it is as simple as wrapping it securely in aluminum foil. It has to be completely surrounded by the foil. No parts or wires poking out.
Automotive electronics go back way further than 1983. I have a 76 F150 that came from the factor with an electronic ignition module. I retrofited it with points type ignition, in part out of wanting to be doubly safe from EMP.
I have to say that Jericho really improved last week. The Blackwater mercenaries (called something else on the show) and FEMA masacres were a nice touch I thought.
Anybody still speculating on what Secret Agent Man is up to? He's clearly not FBI. I'm starting to lean towards him actually being a terrorist.