Electronics can be protected from an electrical pulse.
A wave of energy commonly released by a nuclear detonation can cause internal damage to most commercial electronics.The easiest way to protect your devices is to build a simple Faraday cage.Michael Faraday invented a device that creates a sort of shield around what is inside.The shield stops the flow of the pulse from causing damage.You can build a cage out of items in the house.
Step 1: Pick a shoe box that has a lid.
Sturdy and dry is what you should look for in a shoe box.The aluminum foil will adhere to the cardboard if it is intact.It is important to have a lid, so shoe boxes are often your best option.If you use a regular box, you need to keep it sealed shut.The electronics can be accessed quickly if the lid of the shoe box is removed.
Step 2: The box's dimensions should be measured.
You have to cover as much of the box as you can.It will be easier to measure the box ahead of time.Measure the length and height of the box.Add the height times to the length.Determine how long a piece of foil you need to lay down by adding 1 inch.If you use the same unit of measurement throughout the project, you can measure the box using inches or centimeters.A box that is 25 cm long and 10 cm high would look like this: 4 inches (10 cm) x 2 is 20 cm.18 inches (46 cm) is equal to 20 inches (20 cm).For a total of 19 inches (48 cm), add the extra 1 inch.The foil can be folded over the top edges of the box.
Step 3: You can cut 3 pieces of aluminum foil based on your measurement.
Measure the length you determined in the previous step by stretching the foil out from the roll.Use a razor blade or teeth on the aluminum foil box to cut it off.You have 3 equal length pieces of aluminum foil if you repeat that process two more times.You would need to cut 3 pieces of foil that measure 19 inches by 48 inches.
Step 4: The shoe box should be on the first sheet of aluminum foil.
The table will be shaped like a rectangular with two longer sides and two shorter ones.The longer sides of the box should run parallel to the foil's longer side in order to match its shape.The box's placement doesn't need to be exact.Don't put the lid on the box yet.
Step 5: Wrap the foil around the box.
If you add 1 inch to your measurement, the foil should extend beyond the top of the box.Attach the excess foil to the box with scotch tape.The shoe box has excess foil around it.The bottom and two shorter sides of the box should be covered in aluminum foil.
Step 6: There are two pieces of foil around the box.
If you want to overlap the first sheet of foil on the short sides and bottom of the box, you have to fold the foil into the interior.Attach the piece of foil to the tape.With the last sheet of foil, repeat that process on the other side.The box is covered in foil.To make sure the foil is in constant contact with one another, use long strips of tape.There shouldn't be gaps in the foil.
Step 7: Measure out a sheet of foil with the shoe box lid.
The box lid can be wrapped with one sheet of foil.Place the box lid on top of the table.With enough foil rolled out to cover the full lid, use a razor blade or box teeth to cut that sheet of foil off.The foil won't have the same layers as the rest of the box so be careful not to tear it.
Step 8: Use tape to secure the foil.
If you want to cover the top and sides of the lid, you need to fold the foil around it.The insides of the lid are covered in foil if you fold the foil under it.If the box lid is too large to be covered in a single sheet, you can add more layers of foil.
Step 9: Put your electronics in the box and close it.
A barrier can be created by the foil from the box coming into direct contact with the lid.The exterior of the box's walls need to be protected from the interior foil on the lid.The box can be sealed with aluminum tape.When you unseal the box, you will tear the foil.
Step 10: A galvanized metal bucket is available for purchase.
The body of the cage will be served by the bucket.The bucket should be made of galvanized metal.You should base the size of the bucket on what you want to protect.A 6 US gal bucket is used for this project.The bucket needs to be made of galvanized metal.Plastic buckets won't change the flow of an EMP.There is a metal lid on the bucket.A galvanized metal bucket can be purchased at a hardware store.
Step 11: Use aluminum tape to line the bucket's seams.
In the event of an EMP, the seam in the galvanized metal bucket could provide enough space to allow energy to flow through.If you want to prevent this, apply aluminum tape to the interior of the bucket along the seam where the metal was joined together.It is possible to work without lining the seam with aluminum tape.It is necessary to make sure there are no gaps in the protection created by the bucket.At your local hardware store, you can find aluminum tape.
Step 12: Attach handles to bucket or lid with aluminum tape.
A small gap in the metal of the bucket or lid could allow for an electronic attack.Adding strips of aluminum tape to the inside of the bucket where the handle passes through is one way to make sure that doesn't happen.The most likely places for a gap to be found are the holes where a handle passes through the bucket.The aluminum tape you used on the seam may have already covered the holes.
Step 13: The inside of the bucket needs to be lined.
The electronics need to be separated from the metal.If you want to line the interior of the bucket with cardboard, you can purchase a smaller rubber or plastic bucket.The cardboard should be secured with masking tape rather than aluminum tape.Put a circle of cardboard on the bottom of the bucket.Wrap cardboard around the interior of the bucket to make it stand upright.The inside walls and floor of the bucket should be lined with cardboard.
Step 14: Attach your electronics.
Put your electronics inside the cardboard or bucket you lined the interior of the Faraday cage with.Put the lid on the bucket.The metal contact between the lid and bucket should be enough to make the cage functional, but you can use aluminum tape to seal the bucket shut for added protection.Attach a radio or cell phone to your car to test it.
Step 15: If you want to call it with a second phone, you should get one cellular phone.
You will need two phones for this experiment.You can do it on your own if you have a house phone.A friend with a cell phone can help you with the test.You will need a way to call your cell phone once inside the cage.
Step 16: Make sure the cell phones have good reception.
You can conduct your test at a location where both phones are receiving a strong cell phone signal so you can be certain that it's the Faraday cage preventing your phone from getting a cellular signal, rather than other environmental factors.It is best to conduct this experiment in a place where you can get the best service for your phone.
Step 17: Your friend should call your phone.
Wait for your phone to start ringing when you set the ringer to its loudest setting.Your phone should start ringing very soon after your friend calls it.If your phone does not receive the call, you will not be able to use it to test the cage.If the phone rings, hang up.
Step 18: The cage has a phone inside it.
Put the phone in the Faraday cage by opening the lid.The box or bucket should be in contact with the lid all the way around.The phone shouldn't be in contact with metal or foil inside the cage.
Step 19: Call your friend to dial your number.
You should not hear your phone ringing this time.If the phone does not ring, the signal around your cage has been diverted to prevent it from reaching your phone.If your phone rings, it means there is a gap in the cage that allows the signal to pass through.Make sure your cage works by testing it more than once.
Step 20: If the call goes through, look for gaps in your cage.
An electronic pulse could pass through a gap in the metal of your cage.If you see gaps with aluminum foil or tape, cover them.The cage should be tested again.The test does not guarantee that your cage will work, but it is the easiest way to check for signal leaks.Continue the test until the signal no longer passes through the cage.