Disclaimer - not an electromagnetic scientist wizard
My understanding is that EMPs are more of a concern for the tiny electronics on computers versus relatively large motors or batteries. So, an electric vehicle is still at risk, but I don’t think it’d be any more at risk than any ICE car that’s all computerized anyways.
Nuke type EMPs are a threat to very long wires, like miles long ones used to transmit power. The blast causes a ripple in the earths magnetic field that induces current over huge distances. But I don’t know what a more handheld device would affect.
Electric motors work by inducing a magnetic field with coils of wire, so I’m sure a strong enough EMP would disrupt it temporarily, but I don’t know if it would meaningfully damage anything after the EMP ceased.
They’re made specifically to deal with high electromagnetic flux, so it definitely wouldn’t hurt them long term. Best bet would be something higher frequency to mess with the computers.
From what I understand, the vulnerability of a chip has to do with the operating voltage of the chip. As chips have become smaller, and more efficient, they have also become less vulnerable to EMP. Higher voltage components are more vulnerable, like the motors, but I don’t think you are going to get a man-portable device that will damage them. Maybe one that would fit in a vehicle, but you would have to be very close (inverse square law) and you would have to find a way to not fry your own vehicle.
Not a chip designer, nor an electrician, if anyone with more credibility wants to jump in here, please do.
In all seriousness microwaves are the #1 leading cause of death for hobby electronics people, be careful around them and know what you’re doing before you open it.
I didn’t realize they were the #1 killer. Most of them via electrocution of the HV capacitor, I would imagine?
15ish years ago I got lucky and didn’t kill myself on the first one I ever cracked open. I managed to become marginally more intelligent and after poking around in it decided it’d be smart to research the art of microwave dismantling, which led to a minor anxiety attack and cold sweats when I realized how stupid I had been.
Hahaha, funny you mention that. I was this close to trying to open an old CRT set many years ago when that little voice in my head said, hey, maybe look up what happens when you do that. I decided I didn’t need to go through with it.
That being said, DLP sets are my absolute favorite to dig into. So many awesome optical components, mirrors, and cooling fans inside. I didn’t find anything that seemed too dangerous, either.
Yep. That HV capacitor will turn you into orbital bacon with a quickness, and it keeps a charge for way longer than you’d ever think was realistic. In the same vein as “assume every gun is loaded”, also assume every capacitor is charged.
I think I even read it can gradually spontaneously self-charge if left alone long enough with the terminals insulated from each other. I don’t know if that’s actually true (it would seem to be a sort of Maxwell’s Daemon at that point), but yeah, best to not take chances.
They do charge over time when terminals are not shorted, but it’s not like they go from discharged to spontaneously fully charged in seconds. It’s a slow creep that happens over an extended time period.
He’s a treasure. The inside of a microwave is insane in its casual dangers. Like that HV capacitor, or, more insidiously, the beryllium insulator that can cause berrylliosis if broken and inhaled.
For cars, you’re gonna need something a bit bigger. Large coil, capacitor bank to generate a static field and some high explosives to disrupt that field to give the pulse. It fries the wires in a car. Single use only.
“Sorry but I only have video about the construction process. All the cameras I’ve set up got fried when I’ve set this thing off, including the memory cards. It even messed up the magnetic tape in the old school relic we had as a backup. With that out of the way, let’s get into the construction. This episode is sponsored by …”
You’re going to need some really big conventional explosives to affect an EMF in any way. Not clear on the math, but at that point, blowing up the vehicle with a smaller amount of explosives would be much more efficient.
While I think the legality for such a device is a gray area one strong enough to damage or stop a car could kill or injure anyone around with a cardiac device or other electronic medical equipment.
I’m curious if anyone knows if cars, especially electric cars, are vulnerable to EMPs?
Disclaimer - not an electromagnetic scientist wizard
My understanding is that EMPs are more of a concern for the tiny electronics on computers versus relatively large motors or batteries. So, an electric vehicle is still at risk, but I don’t think it’d be any more at risk than any ICE car that’s all computerized anyways.
“Everything’s computer”
With all the touch screens and computer controlled door handles I wouldn‘t bet on a Tesla in this showdown.
thats one of the many downsides of making everything computer
Nuke type EMPs are a threat to very long wires, like miles long ones used to transmit power. The blast causes a ripple in the earths magnetic field that induces current over huge distances. But I don’t know what a more handheld device would affect.
Electric motors work by inducing a magnetic field with coils of wire, so I’m sure a strong enough EMP would disrupt it temporarily, but I don’t know if it would meaningfully damage anything after the EMP ceased.
They’re made specifically to deal with high electromagnetic flux, so it definitely wouldn’t hurt them long term. Best bet would be something higher frequency to mess with the computers.
Got it, so it’s best to use a nuke just to be safe.
It would probably mess up the controlling computer though.
Occasionally cars get hit by lightning and that usually causes a lot of errors and glitches and sometimes it totally writes off the vehicle.
From what I understand, the vulnerability of a chip has to do with the operating voltage of the chip. As chips have become smaller, and more efficient, they have also become less vulnerable to EMP. Higher voltage components are more vulnerable, like the motors, but I don’t think you are going to get a man-portable device that will damage them. Maybe one that would fit in a vehicle, but you would have to be very close (inverse square law) and you would have to find a way to not fry your own vehicle.
Not a chip designer, nor an electrician, if anyone with more credibility wants to jump in here, please do.
All cars with computers are vulnerable
So like 95-99% of cars registered in a developed economy.
Sounds about right, yeah.
https://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2305791.pdf
Build one and report back. 🤷
Hmmm. Well, I do love taking apart old microwaves…
In all seriousness microwaves are the #1 leading cause of death for hobby electronics people, be careful around them and know what you’re doing before you open it.
I didn’t realize they were the #1 killer. Most of them via electrocution of the HV capacitor, I would imagine?
15ish years ago I got lucky and didn’t kill myself on the first one I ever cracked open. I managed to become marginally more intelligent and after poking around in it decided it’d be smart to research the art of microwave dismantling, which led to a minor anxiety attack and cold sweats when I realized how stupid I had been.
Same with old televisions and that flyback transformer. 😬
Hahaha, funny you mention that. I was this close to trying to open an old CRT set many years ago when that little voice in my head said, hey, maybe look up what happens when you do that. I decided I didn’t need to go through with it.
That being said, DLP sets are my absolute favorite to dig into. So many awesome optical components, mirrors, and cooling fans inside. I didn’t find anything that seemed too dangerous, either.
Yep. That HV capacitor will turn you into orbital bacon with a quickness, and it keeps a charge for way longer than you’d ever think was realistic. In the same vein as “assume every gun is loaded”, also assume every capacitor is charged.
I think I even read it can gradually spontaneously self-charge if left alone long enough with the terminals insulated from each other. I don’t know if that’s actually true (it would seem to be a sort of Maxwell’s Daemon at that point), but yeah, best to not take chances.
They do charge over time when terminals are not shorted, but it’s not like they go from discharged to spontaneously fully charged in seconds. It’s a slow creep that happens over an extended time period.
It’s quite dangerous, the magnetron can kill very easily. There’s this youtuber called styropyro who’s done some really cool stuff with them though
He’s a treasure. The inside of a microwave is insane in its casual dangers. Like that HV capacitor, or, more insidiously, the beryllium insulator that can cause berrylliosis if broken and inhaled.
Sounds like you don’t even have to do anything to make it dangerous. Heck, let’s just chuck broken microwaves at the Teslas.
For cars, you’re gonna need something a bit bigger. Large coil, capacitor bank to generate a static field and some high explosives to disrupt that field to give the pulse. It fries the wires in a car. Single use only.
Sounds like an awesome YT video for backyard scientist or action labs or alpha phoenix or definitely styro pyro
“Sorry but I only have video about the construction process. All the cameras I’ve set up got fried when I’ve set this thing off, including the memory cards. It even messed up the magnetic tape in the old school relic we had as a backup. With that out of the way, let’s get into the construction. This episode is sponsored by …”
You’re going to need some really big conventional explosives to affect an EMF in any way. Not clear on the math, but at that point, blowing up the vehicle with a smaller amount of explosives would be much more efficient.
While I think the legality for such a device is a gray area one strong enough to damage or stop a car could kill or injure anyone around with a cardiac device or other electronic medical equipment.
just interference, but you need a nuke to initiate an EMP effectively. i think some ev cars were susceptible to other forms of interference.
Technically yes, but practically no.