Will EMP or MCE effect a solar pannel

[WhiskeyJack]

Hey guys i want to ask if any one knows the effects of EMP or Mass coronal ejection on a solar panel system? I ask because i know alot of preppers are considering solar panels as a power source if SHTF. I know I [url=http://www.freesmileys.or am. So poney up the info if you got it folks and any way you can think of to sheild or repair EMP or MCE damage.

[Vandal]

I have been thinking about this too. Was planning on making a similar topic actually. So come on! Someone got info?

[Colombo]

The 1859 Carrington event comes to mind, the reports had electrical discharges coming from disconnected from power telegraph lines which started some fires as well as aurora borealis seen in the caribbean. That's a crapload of electric loose in the atmosphere looking for conductors. If something like that happens again I'm disconnecting, shorting, and grounding everything or metal boxing it.

[Vandal]

I've been searching ever since I posted in the topic and all I have found is some sites are saying yes and some are saying no. Some say its fried, while others say it won't affect it.

[WhiskeyJack]

Damn. Well i guess we are gonna have to dig a little deeper to find an answer. Its late so ill start looking in the morn for some better info on the matter. I know that solar pannels ar faily sophisticated but they use simple circuts. so im hoping they would still work. But just goes to show how much we dont know.

[lpdavisakgto]

i would say yes and if not the panel itself directly the inverter and possibly the wiring

[special-k]

No, any EMP or mass coronal ejection (that's not strong enough to melt the fillings in your teeth) should not harm the PV cells in solar panels.  It is only slightly likely that it could harm the diode that prevents discharge that is sometimes built into the panel.  However, charge controllers, inverters, and virtually anything else with a circuit board that has IC chips or transistors will be very susceptible to EMP or mass coronal ejection.

[Ghost]

(that's not strong enough to melt the fillings in your teeth)

Really? That is possible?

[special-k]

(that's not strong enough to melt the fillings in your teeth)

Really? That is possible?

Well, technically, the EMP from a Coronal Mass Ejection wouldn't really melt anything, it would mostly just cause electrons to flow in any conducting metals, causing arcs....But the ionizing radiation that would accompany the CME, COULD.  This is what is what's called a "kill shot" from the Sun, a direct, broadside collision with the most energetic part of a CME could completely scorch the area(s) of the planet with which it made contact.   

[WhiskeyJack]

TY Speacial K. It seems that if we can shield the other componants than solar may stay a viable source durring an event such as this.

[Vandal]

Thanks alot for the info. I couldnt find any concrete info so thank you for some.

[special-k]

Regarding protecting your solar power components (or any electronics) from an EMP:
 
Any electronics that are in use, connected to wire(s) (charge controller, inverter, etc ...) will be highly susceptible to EMP.  My suggestion is to buy back up components and completely wrap them in aluminum foil (with no wires sticking out).  In theory, one layer of foil will work, but you must consider pin holes and tears that may develop in the fragile foil.....so wrap it thoroughly with several layers.  There are YT videos showing experiments, the aluminum foil works very good, even better than storing the components in an old/junk unplugged microwave oven.  If you do have an old/junk microwave oven you wish to use to shield components, you should still wrap the components in foil before storing in the microwave.  There is some argument about grounding the shielding....DO NOT GROUND THE SHIELDING for this type of application.  Make sure the microwave/shield is unplugged or otherwise ungrounded.