Post E.M.P.; Will a GL1100 Still Start?

[Moosehead]

I'll be using my carbureted 1982 GL1100A as a vehicle to survive with after the a theoretical solar flare. Some newer vehicles electronics and computers would be fried in the event of a large scale solar Electric Magnetic Pulse (EMP). A faraday cage can be used to protect sensitive equipment.
Would this vehicle hold up under an electromagnetic burst without protection?

[DenverWinger]

It should, there's nothing electronic in it except the igniters, the main rec/reg and the 7 volt reg for the gauges. And all that stuff is low impedance, pretty simple and robust.

Nothing even remotely resembling a computer.

[AZgl1800]

I seriously doubt that a Solar Flare will ever get even close to generating enough EMP to destroy electronics.

the strength of an EMP falls by the square of the distance from the source.

Now, if it were a nuclear missile about 1 mile above your house, nothing will be left standing anyway.

solar cycles run on an 11 year event, proven over the years.....
Ham Radio enthusiasts look forward to the Solar Flares, as it allows them to communicate around the world on peanut whistle sized radios....

I have done that many times, in my early ham radio days...

[gt750]

I'd disagree. In the movie I saw, the bad guys were able to disable most components in vehicles, including starters, alternators, CDI. About the only vehicle to survive and run was a Ford diesel engine 3/4 ton. The diesel engine uses a Ford diesel with a mechanical fuel pump. As long as you park on top of a hill you'll be golden. I am not sure what years they were made, 1990ish.

[AZgl1800]

I'd disagree. In the movie I saw, the bad guys were able to disable most components in vehicles, including starters, alternators, CDI. About the only vehicle to survive and run was a Ford diesel engine 3/4 ton. The diesel engine uses a Ford diesel with a mechanical fuel pump. As long as you park on top of a hill you'll be golden. I am not sure what years they were made, 1990ish.

Movie makers embellish the facts to fit the scripts.
don't put any substance to that at all.

If, a solar flare were strong enough to disable all electronics, our hides would be melted, so riding a bike would not be a consideration.

[tamathumper]

While movie-makers embellish lots of things, especially related to firearms and weapons in general, I don't think the odds of an EMP are quite at low as implied. A nuclear device detonated high in the atmosphere, far enough away to not do immediate physical damage yet still interact with the ionosphere would be enough to damage electrical devices and the grid. Likewise another Carrington-class event could very well take out enormous portions of our infrastructure. A vehicle or battery-operated device I'm not certain, but the chance is not zero. Reasonable preparation is not out of the question, as it's a matter of when, not if.

https://www.livescience.com/38848-emp-s ... anger.html

[AZgl1800]

if you are going to be that worried about it, enclose your entire garage/shop/small building with screen wire, grounded into a deep sink hole full of a carbon mixture.... 30 feet should be deep enough. Keep a small Drip Line on it to keep it moist. lots of reading material on doing that.

some of the Microwave Repeater Stations that I used to maintain, had 3 holes augured down as deep as the machine would go. We ran a 3 inch wide copper bonding strap to a pipe that went to the bottom of the hole. I forget what the mixture of the material was that we dumped into that hole... it was sort of grainy in texture. that's been 40+ years ago.
this was for Lightning Protection, not EMP, but it works for both events.

that is called a Faraday Shield....

Honestly, I am not the paranoid type, and will never, ever, worry about it.

[tamathumper]

Advising extreme measures like that is a straw man attempt to make any preparation seem silly, when what I said was reasonable preparation.

Do you wear ATGATT? As many would say that is reasonable as would say you look silly in all that get-up.

Wanting a working vehicle is no kookier than buying a case of toilet paper was two months ago.

[Solo So Long]

The planet is hit by thousands of EMPs every day. We call that "lightning." The greater the distance from the EMP source, the less the effect, especially if there is anything in the way, such as atmosphere.

I would expect a GL1100 to not even notice anything outside of a few miles lateral or 20 miles overhead.

[WingAdmin]

An EMP will destroy anything relying on silicon - so think transistors, diodes, all parts of your ignition system.

A Faraday cage will not protect against an EMP. Accepted protection standards are a solid cube of 1/4" steel plate, with all seams welded, connected to a ground rod sunk at least 50 feet into the ground, depending on the soil type.

So basically, assume everything electronic will no longer function!