One of essentially the most devastating and, unfortunately, most definitely mega-disasters that preppers worry about today is the EMP or electromagnetic pulse.
A robust EMP, generated by the detonation of a nuclear warhead, a specialized EMP device and even powerful cosmic phenomena, can completely destroy the electrical grid, the whole lot connected to it, and plenty of other electronic devices. As such, EMP protection is near the height of major disaster preparations.
Some claim that extraordinary mylar bags could be used to guard electronic devices from the results of EMP. Is it true?
No, typical mylar bags is not going to provide significant protection against the results of strong EMP. Although these bags often have a metallised coating, it just isn’t enough to guard the items inside from essentially the most threatening EMP.
It’s hard to say how bad the implications of severe EMP could be. An entire blackout is nearly certain, and plenty of electronic devices shall be temporarily disabled with damaged components and even completely destroyed.
It’s actually in your best interest to guard the devices you depend on from EMP, but I do not think a plain mylar bag would do this. Below I’ll inform you why…
What exactly is a Mylar bag?
Just to make certain everyone seems to be of the identical mind relating to mylar bags, we meant PET plastic bags, the type which might be often, but not at all times, fabricated from a really thin aluminum coating on one or each side of the plastic itself.
PET, short for polyethylene terephthalateis a ubiquitous form of plastic that’s used to make the whole lot from food and other commodity packaging to plumbing components, clothing, water bottles and more.
This plastic has a great repute in these applications because it provides a great seal that stops oxygen ingress in addition to being immune to degradation by oxygen and plenty of other environmental aspects.
Lightweight, reasonably priced and effective, PET has many advantages, and mylar bags are a few of the most effective you may get for food storage or for storing anything that needs protection from the weather, including moisture and pests.
But crucial query we want to reply is whether or not mylar bags can and can protect the electronics placed inside them from the damaging effects of high EMP.
Popular Mylar bag pouch
The popular case that is typically truthfully but wrongly fabricated from mylar bags as EMP protective covers relies on the proven fact that they’ll sometimes block various cell phones and other radio signals along with being advertised as static protection, as described above.
The test often performed involves placing a cell phone or other device in a mylar bag before sealing it, after which attempting to reply or make a call on the phone.
People also display various Bluetooth devices and other connected electronic devices that sometimes lose or don’t lose communication with the host device within the bag.
The reasoning is that because these signals are blocked, the harmful EMP emanations must even be blocked. This statement is fake: those with even a modicum of experience or theoretical knowledge in the idea of electricity will quickly see the flaw on this test protocol.
Cell phone signals are electromagnetic waves themselves, but they’re much, much weaker than the strong emissions of a giant EMP. Cell phone and bluetooth signals are relatively easy to interfere with, and quite a lot of materials, not only metal, will do this successfully.
Beating these low power waves just isn’t proof that the identical material can beat EMP waves coming from the opposite direction.
But there are other shortcomings on this equation beyond the premise of the test and the implied evidence itself. I’ll inform you more about them in the next chapters…
The metal coating of Mylar is insufficient to guard against EMP
One of the foremost disadvantages of metal mylar bags as EMP protective envelopes is that the element that really provides protection, aluminum or one other metal, is solely lower than the duty.
Mylar bags are incredibly thin, and the metallic skin applied to the plastic is even thinner.
It just won’t provide enough of a barrier to completely enclose the protected electronics with a Faraday cage approach.
Looking at specially designed and built or improvised Faraday cages which might be prone to provide significant or complete EMP protection, we’ll see that they’re invariably fabricated from multiple layers of metal foil, metal mesh, solid metal panels, or other solid metal material.
The EMP shall be a big electrical event and the generated waves have to be completely and appropriately reflected, absorbed or redirected to guard the sensitive electronics contained in the cage.
Any metal that just isn’t thick enough will allow emanations to pass beyond the surface into the inside, compromising the protective device.
Typical mylar bags have an inadequate EMP “seal”.
Another principle of EMP protection with a Faraday cage to take into accout is one other principle where mylar bags fail again.
The Faraday cage must offer a whole enclosure for the protected electronics and be sealed on all sides with no gaps or weak points through which EMP waves could penetrate or “squirt” into the inside.
Metal-to-metal contact or purpose-built seals on larger containers are required to supply some protection, and regular Mylar bags just don’t provide that.
They can get closeassuming they’re vibrated welded or otherwise permanently bonded, but the standard zippers, snaps or sliders on these bags just aren’t enough to take care of the hazard.
Each of these kinds of closures is a weak point that may allow EMP waves to simply access the inside the bag, completely compromising any assumed protective value.
It can be vital to do not forget that even with vibrating, vacuum or heat sealing closures, there was virtually no real verbal testing with Mylar bags in comparison with powerful EMP sources.
As you may imagine, easy home tests are usually not proof of adequate protection as described above.
At best, the extent of protection shall be marginal. At worst, it gives you a false sense of security and can allow you to down on that fateful day.
Serious EMP protection requires specially designed solutions
If you’re serious about providing EMP protection to your vehicle, tools or appliances, now could be the time to noticeably consider making them yourself or investing accordingly.
I’m not saying it’s inconceivable to create your personal completely effective protection against EMP.
The rules are easy to know, although publicly available data on the results of essentially the most powerful EMPs and the way our devices take care of them, even when protected, are sketchy or non-existent.
In theory, you need to have the opportunity to create some worthy protection with a bit elbow grease, ingenuity, and customary constructing materials. That said, mylar bags just haven’t got a spot in your arsenal.
Alternatively, it might be more cost effective to buy specially designed EMP protective enclosures, in all sizes, from manufacturers and retailers specializing on this sector.
Whichever way you go, it’s quaint but sure you may get well protection in comparison with a daily mylar bag.
Understanding these principles and determining the most effective approach is sort of a protracted conversation, and you will find a whole lot of information here.
