100 replies to this topic 3 votes

[Relativity_17]

limok, on 02 September 2010 - 21:59, said:

Not bad, why not just turn the electronics off until the storm passes (that is if it's as bad as they say)?

This is just my guess, but for certain electronics, it doesn't matter whether they are powered or not.

Any burst of highly energetic particles can distort the earth's magnetosphere, basically creating a massive moving magnetic field. A moving magnetic field can induce current to flow in electronic circuits. A sufficiently larger perturbation in the magnetosphere can create enough current to melt down components of a power grid, or spark fires in unshielded electronics. While solar storms have taken out electrical grids and telegraph communications in the past, they have never posed a large problem due to the lack of electronics in use.

At this point, if we got hit by a powerful solar storm (and it doesn't even need to be the most powerful one in recent human history), things will fry and burn, and the most developed countries will, ironically, suffer the most.

I don't think that smaller devices such as mobile phones or pacemakers would be subject to damage from an induced electrical current, but devices hooked to a large distributed network of conductive material would pick up a significant amount of energy. Things like railroads, pipelines, power lines, bridges, and other thick conductive cables, and anything connected to them, like your computer, could be spiked by something like 2000 V or more.

[Non-Active-Account]

Growled, on 02 September 2010 - 01:02, said:

If we lost all of our electronic crap and had to start over, would that be so bad?

Serious question? If so yes.

[Growled]

Pixil Eyes, on 02 September 2010 - 23:06, said:

Serious question? If so yes.

Serious question....not completely. I am a tech guy and I understand how important tech is in today's world. On the flip side, our grandparents made it without tech and for the most part so could we. Not that I would want to, mind you.

[thefonz]

To be fair, we are so dependent on electornics and the network of satellites in orbit - we have zero control over what happens around the planet.

Best thing to do is grab a pair of sunnies, sit outside with a cold beer and watch the show.

Oh, and limit air-travel (natch).

[Nihilus]

shakey, on 02 September 2010 - 22:30, said:

Does it really matter if it is on or not? This isn't like water. I have no real knowledge about sun flares and the damage they can cause. But I have had a power surge through a cable modem and through the lan lines, while both computers were off, which caused both lan cards on both computers to fry. Luckily nothing else happened. Was still quite a surprise that it happened that way.
At least that was my theory. I mean, during a thunderstorm, is it likely that the only things to go out would be 2 computers, in 2 separate rooms, to both blow lan cards out, while no breakers being blown on the breaker box, but for a current to go through the lan cords in the router/modem?

Well I know they put satellites into low power mode to protect against them, so I think it does help. I'm not sure why though.

[Relativity_17]

Nihilus, on 03 September 2010 - 04:43, said:

Well I know they put satellites into low power mode to protect against them, so I think it does help. I'm not sure why though.

Probably to lower the amount of current flowing in order to increase the probability that induced currents don't overload the circuits? Parallel to that, it may also lower the amount of heat that the device must tolerate.

[ncc50446]

Watch...The whole Internet would be fried from it...And the RIAA would still be suing everyone lol

[wellofsouls]

shakey, on 02 September 2010 - 22:30, said:

Does it really matter if it is on or not? This isn't like water. I have no real knowledge about sun flares and the damage they can cause. But I have had a power surge through a cable modem and through the lan lines, while both computers were off, which caused both lan cards on both computers to fry. Luckily nothing else happened. Was still quite a surprise that it happened that way.
At least that was my theory. I mean, during a thunderstorm, is it likely that the only things to go out would be 2 computers, in 2 separate rooms, to both blow lan cards out, while no breakers being blown on the breaker box, but for a current to go through the lan cords in the router/modem?

well, during my college days, once in a heavy thunderstorm my roommate's desktop computer (powered off but connected to the cables) suddenly turn on and off on its own, and there was some strange noise, and then later my roommate find out that the PSU, CPU, mobo, video card, memory, the CRT monitor and HDDs are all fried. So if the solar flare can cause that kind of electromagnetic storm covering the whole world, it will be quite serious.

And yup electromagnetic storms can cause strong power surges within electronics circuits, not necessarily affecting the fuse.

limok, on 02 September 2010 - 21:59, said:

Not bad, why not just turn the electronics off until the storm passes (that is if it's as bad as they say)?

it may not work depending on the severity of the electromagnetic storm. look at how our power generators work, when electromagnetic field is cut through by metal, there will be electric current induced. So if the electromagnetic field fluctuates violently, it can induce electric current in metal object, for sensitive constructs like electronics VLSI microcircuits, it may be generating high enough electric power to destroy the electronics. If it's as strong as EMP bombs, then any electronics not adequately shielded may be in danger.

[Slarlac249]

Will some type of insulation help protect cables etc?

[wellofsouls]

Chevron 7, on 03 September 2010 - 14:00, said:

Will some type of insulation help protect cables etc?

you need a Faraday's Box, basically means insulation with conductive materials cover.

put things inside a wooden box, then put the wooden box inside a metal box, then it's mostly immune to EMPs.

[roadwarrior]

shakey, on 02 September 2010 - 22:13, said:

ill be the only one driving around in my 1982 ford truck that has no computer electronics in it at all lol. *cries*

It has spark plugs, an alternator, and a distributor, doesn't it? All of that would likely be fried too, given a large enough solar storm.