[R-390] EMP

[Dave Maples]

All: Side note: Another book you might want to look for is Alas Babylon.
Pretty decent portrayal of the events following a late 50s nuke exchange.
More in the human side of things.

As far as loss of electric power is concerned, if you want to curl your
hair, find the report from the EMP Commission on critical infrasctructures
and read it through. This isn't fiction, but I wish it was.  Page 27 (if I
remember correctly) contains some very, very sobering information about the
manufacture of large power transformers used in the grid...as you read it
think not only EMP but truck bomb or RPG.

Dave WB4FUR

-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Cecil Acuff
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 8:13 PM
To: mikea; r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] EMP


Restore some old but reliable tube transceivers for use after an EMP event.
Sounds crazy but it's easy to put in a stock of spare tubes and other
spares.

After such a life changing event as a nuclear attack even basic
communications will be a welcome commodity.

Powering the stuff is the other problem.  Many portable generators use
solidstate controllers for engine speed regulation and excitation.  Not sure
those will survive.  Something more vintage will be necessary there as
well...and that's if the insulation in the windings survive...

Interesting problem...one I hope we or our kids and kids, kids never have to
face...

Cecil...
----- Original Message -----
From: "mikea" <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: [R-390] EMP


> On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 09:41:12AM -0700, Steve Toth wrote:
>> So, theorectically, what would be involved in "hardening" a hamshack??
>> (understanding that the power grid, etc., would be taken out)
>>
>> Not being an engineer and having no background in this area, my guess
>> would be some sort of shielding on all sides of the room, roof and
>> floor (what would be considered adequate?); thorough grounding of the
>> shielding and associated equipment (would the lightning strike damage
>> prevention techniques discussed a little while ago be applicable?);
>> and filtering of all wiring coming into and out of the room for
>> excessive voltage pulses??? Or would even those techniques have their
>> own issues? Just curious.
>
> You might get through it with fully-shielded underground vault,
> containing:
>
> A complete set of spare electronics -- as in a complete set of spare
> transceivers/receivers/transmitters.
>
> A complete set of spare cables, connectors, etc., as well, as the
> voltages induced by all those Compton-effect e- will be big enough to
> punch through insulation and do other nasties.
>
> Filtering just isn't going to do any good against voltage spikes with
> those magnitudes and such fast risetimes.
>
> No, I'm not kidding.
>
> --
> Mike Andrews, W5EGO
> mikea at mikea.ath.cx
> Tired old sysadmin
>


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