EMP

This is a very hit and miss topic...

A ammo can may work... A metal trash can or old chest freezer are other favourites

Any metal will work as long as its sealed and no gaps in the metal

To the parts question...
Again very hit and miss, but a alternator, anything that has a coil and starter motor...

They do studies on emp effects on cars, trucks etc in the states... They won't release details but overall most cars should still run... They may stall when the emp hits... But there is a likelihood the car may restart

Also the chances of us getting an EMP in Oz are minuscule I reckon, it doesn't even show on my radar.

A CME is always possible, even likely, but AFAIK that has little or no effect on most electronics, only huge items over 300 feet or so in size, like transmission lines. So a CME will not blow up your computer or car or anything as long as you are not connected to said transmission lines (IE off grid), of course it will cripple society as a whole so there will be a knock-on effect.

I'm sorry but I don't know what a CME or AFAIK is. 

I was thinking more along the lines of a man made EMP rather than than one from a solar flare. Although it may not happen, I feel that I'm better prepared by knowing, than not knowing anything.

I saw a show on Nat geo where they found a metal garbage can worked best when the lid was taped to base with adhesive aluminium tape. I call it sarking tape but not sure if that is accurate name.

Thanks, that gives me something to go looking for, any idea where I can get it from?

To but in on the odds... The odds maybe low... But nothing stops anyone having ago at reresearching it... IMHO if a major emp hits I doubt the damage is going to cone close to what's "predicted" but if bad enough a American blackout situation will be very close to it

On solar panels... Apparently not affected by emp... But the supporting components will be... (Inverters, regulators etc)

A good thing to look up (good luck finding layman's language) is electo magnets and magnetic fields, transformers (elect component) and motors (elect)
A emp (electromagnetic pulse) is extremely similar in effect as a transformer... Just such a high rate of energy that the electronic components fry...

Good luck

Thanks for the info on the insulation for the faraday case.

I've looked for info about solar panel information and emp's but yes you have a point on the "not in lay-mans terms' not alot made sense to me that's why I thought I'd ask on here. Thanks to everyone for your help.

At the most intense an EMP/CME will produce 50v per metre but that is also directly under the detonation!
Assuming all was not perfect, you could expect most areas on the east coast of Australia to receive somewhere between 1 and 10 volt per metre!
and that is assuming the wires doing the collecting are parallel to the wave!
A uhf handheld CB turned on would get a .1 to 1v pulse as it has a short collection antenna!
A 50km long powerline at the best angle would generate somewhere in the vicinity of 50,000 to 500,000 volts

generally cars should run, the grid should not run! radio gear not plugged in should work except for radios with very long antennas, usually stuff lower than 50meghz

In the event of an EMP, what parts in would be effected in an old, non computerised vehicle?Automobiles

The potential EMP vulnerability of automobiles derives from the use of built-in electronics
that support multiple automotive functions. Electronic components were first
introduced into automobiles in the late 1960s. As time passed and electronics technologies
evolved, electronic applications in automobiles proliferated. Modern automobiles
have as many as 100 microprocessors that control virtually all functions. While electronic
applications have proliferated within automobiles, so too have application standards and
electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) practices.
Thus, while it might be expected that increased EMP vulnerability would accompany the
proliferated electronics applications, this trend, at least in part, is mitigated by the
increased application of EMI/EMC practices.
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages
ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive
electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The
testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially
increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent)
was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous
response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the
simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and
engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles
that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running
automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately
30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a
stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile
were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively minor. Twenty-five
automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g.,
blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the
37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below
25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field
levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver
intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the
road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions
could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could
exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered
crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent
loss of life, and multiple injuries.

Trucks
As is the case for automobiles, the potential EMP vulnerability of trucks derives from
the trend toward increasing use of electronics. We assessed the EMP vulnerability of
trucks using an approach identical to that used for automobiles. Eighteen running and
nonrunning trucks were exposed to simulated EMP in a laboratory. The intensity of the
EMP fields was increased until either anomalous response was observed or simulator
limits were reached. The trucks ranged from gasoline-powered pickup trucks to large diesel-
powered tractors. Truck vintages ranged from 1991 to 2003.

Of the trucks that were not running during EMP exposure, none were subsequently
affected during our test. Thirteen of the 18 trucks exhibited a response while running.
Most seriously, three of the truck motors stopped. Two could be restarted immediately,
but one required towing to a garage for repair. The other 10 trucks that responded exhibited
relatively minor temporary responses that did not require driver intervention to correct.
Five of the 18 trucks tested did not exhibit any anomalous response up to field
strengths of approximately 50 kV/m.
Based on these test results, we expect few truck effects at EMP field levels below
approximately 12 kV/m. At higher field levels, 70 percent or more of the trucks on the
road will manifest some anomalous response following EMP exposure. Approximately
15 percent or more of the trucks will experience engine stall, sometimes with permanent
damage that the driver cannot correct.
Similar to the case for automobiles, the EMP impact on trucks could trigger vehicle
crashes on U.S. highways. As a result, many more vehicles could be damaged than those
damaged directly by EMP exposure.

Source - www.empcommission.org/reports.php



-  Definitely.  What might not is the regulator. 


Any metal.  'Sealed' is best and you can double pack it, that is wrap in tin foil, insulate from box [cardboard would more than do it] and then seal whatever box you like.  I'd wrap cheap aluminum foil or the stick on flashing around the small gap around the lid to be sure.   You can test it by sticking a radio that's on [and loud] and noticing how weak [and hopefully dead] the signal goes.  It's a good approximation.  A microwave works pretty well, it's already a faraday cage protecting us from microwave radiation cooking us.  You can see them on the side of the road during hard rubbish collection all of the time.  Convenient too.