One of the first questions I have concerns how an electro magnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear detonation would impact the operability of private vehicles. Would an EMP fry the electronics of a vehicle? If so, can vehicles be hardened against EMP? How would you repair an EMP-damaged vehicle? What is the radius from a detonation that would be impacted by EMP?

Tow I think that this is a good subject but I think that you will find it awfully hard to harden a POW against EMP, the newer modles have to much electronics installed in them. But it do bear more research. Don't want to have to walk to far lol

I think it would with the new computerized vehicles, but the older points systems may still work. That is just a guess.

I am not sure what electronics would be affected. Would portable phones not work. I know we always keep on of the old style ones around, you know the hard wired non-battery operated types!!

Electronics systems would need "Shielding"
against this scenario ,just a mechanic of many years ,I think if the systems were not shielded
there would be no vehicles moving.
Scary thoughts.

don't know about vehicles, but here is some excellent info on how to protect things like radios against emp..something called a 'faraday cage'...http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/emp_and_faraday_cages.htm

I'm thinking back years ago when this Cuban pilot defected with a MiG 25 I think it was. Anyway, the point is a bunch of Air Force pilots were laughing at how primitive it was since instead of transistorized electronics it was full of old-fashioned tubes.

They stopped laughing when the realities of EMP were explained to them. It would be flying and ours would not.

If you've got an old car with points system with no electronics you should be ok.

It's damn difficult and expensive to shield modern electronics and the results might be unpredictable.

A sufficiently large nuke detonated about 250 miles over CONUS would be devestating. Most of our defense systems would probably work but the electrical and communications grids would be trashed. Life as we know it would cease to be.

The EMP bomb is being perfected by different nations right now. It is seen as a relatively cheap counter to the Star Wars defense shield if we should ever get it working.

If ya want to experience EMP/EMI just hook up your printer in the same room with a phone charging base!

Getting an older (1994 or older) diesel pickup, such as a Dodge Cummins, Ford Turbo diesel is the way to go. Be sure to get a 5-speed so you can push start it if needed. Diesels do not have an electronic ignition, so they are pretty much EMP proof. Just be sure it's prior to electronic igintion. A 1993-1994 Dodge Cummins would be the best candidate because they'll run for 300K to 400K pretty easily. But beware, if you have one of the only running vehicles in a city (such as my town of Phoenix) you'd better be prepared to protect it on the way out. That's what I've learned about the EMP proof vehicle. God bless

As long as the electronics are totally shut down there should not be a problem. EMP cause shorts in circuits, so electrons have to be moving through the circuits and short to the wrong area of the circuit causing failure. If nukes are going off just hope you are fortunate enough to either be so far out of range that you feel no effects or be in the immediate blast and instantly vaporized. FYI you can create an EMP with out a nuke, when I get free time from the million other personal projects im on I want to figure it out, I know it involves a high explosive in a metal tube, initiated from one end so the pressure wave propogates down the tube at a high rate of speed.

Being that we are an increasingly Wi-Fi, wireless, computer savvy society, don't we already somewhat shield our electronics from the EM Fields emitted by other electronic devices?
EMP lethality is also dependent on the delivery system and type of pulse right? My unit field tested a spread spectrum communication system that was, in theory, EMP proof, being that is was in a non-high density oxidized metal case and had no exposed wiring or circuitry. We didn't nuke it or anything, but what are the principles of a high yield electromagnetic device? Is it like soundwaves that diminish in transmission through specific matter?

an EMP is a microwave at high amplitudes. Here is a link I think everyone will enjoy and would be a fun project to try and build.

http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~valeri/EMP.html

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Originally posted by TOW Gunner:
One of the first questions I have concerns how an electro magnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear detonation would impact the operability of private vehicles. Would an EMP fry the electronics of a vehicle? If so, can vehicles be hardened against EMP? How would you repair an EMP-damaged vehicle? What is the radius from a detonation that would be impacted by EMP?

The radius It all depends on the size of the bomb, not to mention how it is made. Also one important thing, trying to EMP proof your vehicle is a HUGE waste of money, the risk-reward ratio is just not there, you want something to increase your lifespan? Invest in side airbags.