Will an EMP render a solar panel useless?

  • Thread starter Thread starter alchemical
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
An EMP blast can potentially damage solar panels by inducing high voltages in their circuitry, rendering them useless. Disconnecting solar panels from wiring may offer some protection, but the unpredictability of an EMP event complicates preparedness. Many preppers consider solar panels as a backup power source, despite the risks associated with EMPs. Discussions about EMPs are often restricted due to their dangerous and illegal nature. Ultimately, the effectiveness of solar panels in an EMP scenario remains a contentious topic.
alchemical
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
So, I noticed there are these prepper people who buy solar panels in case of a disaster. A lot of the disasters talked about involve power outages caused by EMPS. Well, what is the point in buying a solar panel to prep for an EMP when the EMP blast would just fry the circuitry? Do I have this right? Would an EMP render a solar panel useless?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
alchemical said:
So, I noticed there are these prepper people who buy solar panels in case of a disaster. A lot of the disasters talked about involve power outages caused by EMPS. Well, what is the point in buying a solar panel to prep for an EMP when the EMP blast would just fry the circuitry? Do I have this right? Would an EMP render a solar panel useless?
Welcome to the PF.

The problem with EMP is that the EM field pulse is strong enough to induce very high voltages in any wires that are long enough to resonate with the pulse. So disconnecting devices from wiring can help to protect the devices, but presumably you don't have much warning before a criminal detonation of an EMP device.

That's pretty much all that can be said about it here on the PF. EMP events are both dangerous and illegal, and discussions about such things are not allowed per the PF rules. Thread is tied off.
 
I am trying to understand how transferring electric from the powerplant to my house is more effective using high voltage. The suggested explanation that the current is equal to the power supply divided by the voltage, and hence higher voltage leads to lower current and as a result to a lower power loss on the conductives is very confusing me. I know that the current is determined by the voltage and the resistance, and not by a power capability - which defines a limit to the allowable...

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
6K
  • · Replies 108 ·
4
Replies
108
Views
13K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
16K
Replies
27
Views
4K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
5K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K