DIY Faraday Cages

[JohnyMac]

Good article on DIY Faraday Cages. Scroll to the bottom of the article and then click on you project for specific directions.

Some are very easy to make. I am going to make a box with a lid coated with 2 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil for my laptops, their cords, my Pofung radios & their chargers plus my memory sticks. I will post pics when completed.

[thatGuy]

I can't wait to see Johny, it might be misguided but I put all my stuffs in an old microwave.

[JohnyMac]

I also liked the DYI closet faraday cage.

[thatGuy]

You could also use it as a dope grow

[JoJo]

Good article on DIY Faraday Cages. Scroll to the bottom of the article and then click on you project for specific directions.

Some are very easy to make. I am going to make a box with a lid coated with 2 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil for my laptops, their cords, my Pofung radios & their chargers plus my memory sticks. I will post pics when completed.

Don't forget to put your electronics in a plastic bag first then aluminum foil, then plastic bag and then more foil. 

[Nemo]

Electronics in plastic and foil?  Those have complicated circuits.  So what about hats?  Do they need plastic too or just good heavy duty tin foil.  One layer shiny side out and one shiny side in.  Do I need to go back and put plastic wrap in between them?

Nemo

[JoJo]

Electronics in plastic and foil?  Those have complicated circuits.  So what about hats?  Do they need plastic too or just good heavy duty tin foil.  One layer shiny side out and one shiny side in.  Do I need to go back and put plastic wrap in between them?

Nemo

Scroll to "What Just Happened".

http://www.futurescience.com/emp/emp-protection.html

[Nemo]

I see nothing about tin foil hats.  6 and 10 gallon trash cans and such but no hats.

Nemo

[Kbop]

No Worries JM. - let me know if you need more.

http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/general-discussion/faraday-cage-who's-correct/msg56873/#msg56873


this person actually tested RFI using anti-static bags and a trashcan (it shows the 'lid gap' problem).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYWhTMmv6bs

http://www.opensourceinstruments.com/Electronics/A3018/Faraday_Enclosures.html
http://asurvivalplan.com/2013/11/05/emp-methods-and-preps-part-iv/

[JohnyMac]

Awesome Kbop! Thx 

[Kbop]

http://www.futurescience.com/emp/emp-grounding.html

The above link, if its still up and running, is an in depth resource for Faraday Shielding. Its a bit of overkill, but I thought I'd post it because there have been some discussion concerning EMP damage to electronics.

[Nemo]

How about a refrigerator?  Galvanized sheet across the back and bottom.  Pieces to cover the rubber door seal area and snug against outside case walls.

Seems something like the fridge as a starting box would be 80%+ done at the start and just need a plug or 3 and its complete.

Chest type freezer more likely with some bit of thinking on it.

Nemo

[Kbop]

great start. 
cooling inlet, outlet, vent, drain.  not much to seal. 
Water proof too 

[Kbop]

after reading pkveazey;

a plastic office trash can might work pretty well. 
- put everything in a plastic trash bag.
- put the trash bag in the trash can.
- wrap the trashcan in 2 layers of aluminum foil.  (two layers minimize leakage through any gaps).

[pkveazey]

Most of the people using trashcans are using the old fashioned corrugated metal ones that we all remember so well from our school and military days. Putting the items in plastic bags is almost a necessity because the items inside the can must not touch the metal can even though it's on the inside of the can.

Another thing to realize is that the EMP is electrical but must be thought of more like it is light. If the container is metal and light can't get in, then the Pulse can't get in. Overlapping layers of aluminum foil tape might not be electrically connected because of the glue acting as an insulator, but they will provide the proper shielding.

[JoJo]

 They make a tape that is electrically conductive.

 http://www.bing.com/search?q=electrically+conductive+tape&qs=OS&pq=electrical+conductive+tape&sc=6-26&cvid=CF664E672756495CB10D5BE4E5D46DB0&FORM=QBLH&sp=1

[Nemo]

Most of the people using trashcans are using the old fashioned corrugated metal ones that we all remember so well from our school and military days. Putting the items in plastic bags is almost a necessity because the items inside the can must not touch the metal can even though it's on the inside of the can.

Another thing to realize is that the EMP is electrical but must be thought of more like it is light. If the container is metal and light can't get in, then the Pulse can't get in. Overlapping layers of aluminum foil tape might not be electrically connected because of the glue acting as an insulator, but they will provide the proper shielding.

1.  So if I am inside the can, and see no light coming in, that can is good, correct?

2.  As long as whatever I put in that can has no direct contact with the can or contact through any type of electric conductive material it is protected and lives through the pulse, correct?

3.  A plastic can with lid and tape sealed along the can/lid space, inside a metal can with lid taped will be good, correct?

4.    The metal can stops the EMP and the plastic can keeps the stuff inside from contacting the metal which is absorbing and grounding/stopping the EMP, correct?

Sometimes it takes breaking things down to little parts and bits of reasoning for me to understand.

Nemo

[Kbop]

@Nemo,

1.  So if I am inside the can, and see no light coming in, that can is good, correct?

• make sure it is sealed with no gaps in the handles/lid (the rivets).  The bottom is sealed.  The lid is attached do the can with no gaps.  Tape or even Aluminum foil as a gasket would work.

2.  As long as whatever I put in that can has no direct contact with the can or contact through any type of electric conductive material it is protected and lives through the pulse, correct?

• correct.  I use card board boxes when loading the can.

3.  A plastic can with lid and tape sealed along the can/lid space, inside a metal can with lid taped will be good, correct?

• Yes

4.    The metal can stops the EMP and the plastic can keeps the stuff inside from contacting the metal which is absorbing and grounding/stopping the EMP, correct?

• Yes... as long as the EMP source isn't next to the can

[Nemo]

4.    The metal can stops the EMP and the plastic can keeps the stuff inside from contacting the metal which is absorbing and grounding/stopping the EMP, correct?

• Yes... as long as the EMP source isn't next to the can

If its a nuke popping within a mile or 3 of my cans, I think cans are way down the worry list.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

You can also use so designed anti-static bags to wrap each item like this one here...https://www.amazon.com/Faraday-EMP-Bags-FULLY-SPECCED-Electro-shielding/dp/B00WLI5G7G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481120022&sr=8-2&keywords=emp+bags

[JoJo]

  Why not Mylar? One of it's properties is Electric Insulator. I know the only way to test it is by what we don't want to happen.

 http://chemistry.about.com/od/polymers/f/What-Is-Mylar.htm

 I had to go up to New Jersey to take an extra transponder and I put it in a Mylar bag. There wasn't any charges on this transponder that's what got me thinking.

[Kbop]

@JoJo - the antistatic bags JM mentioned are mylar (aka. polyester or PET). 
The extra benefit that has over a potato chip bag (crisps bag for some of our readers) made from mylar - is the sputtered metal coating.  so you get the protection of mylar and the benefit of the Faraday cage from the metal.  This is why some people use mylar food bags for EMP protection.

[Jackalope]

I use mylar bags as an extra level of protection.  I put the electronic device within a plastic bag, then put it inside a mylar bag, which is then put inside another plastic bag, and then inside either a garbage can, a metal ammo can, or a metal military surplus night vision goggles case.  This provides not only an extra layer of EMP defense, but it also provides exceptional moisture protection.

It's not DIY, but if you carry electronics gear on your person, or perhaps you have a pace maker, then you might be interested in this apparel: http://www.hecsllc.com/hecs-blocks-em-signal

[thedigininja]

I bought 2 mild steel lock boxes on impulse the other day. They were part of an unfinished project and the guy needed to clear up some space so he was letting go of them cheap.

My intention is to bolt them to the back of my truck, which is covered so no worry about rain. The actually did really good work. They both have a very nice "seal" because there are no uneven lines resulting in any gaps around the lid plus they have a steel lip on the inside that go all the way to the top of the lid. This got me thinking that with some insulation these boxes could work very well for me to store a few additional electrical goods in.

My problem comes in with the fact that the steel hasn't been treated at all and I'm actually close enough to the coast that the salt in the air is still enough to eat up steel. These boxes were stored indoors and they are ORANGE. It hasn't actuary penetrated anywhere so I was easily able to just sand them off but how long before they look like fishing nets?

My first instinct was to powder coat them but from speaking to the guys at the workshop that severely decreases the electrical conductivity.

Anybody have any tips on how I could treat the steel to protect it from the evils of oxidation but still maintain the usefulness as a shock box?

[Nemo]

Paint.  Good primer and good paint. Clean and shiny before application.

Ought to take care of it.

Nemo