Emp Resistant Solar Panels
Because of a multitude of factors that would affect solar panels during an emp such as the magnitude of the emp event it s difficult to say for sure what kind of protection is needed to completely protect electronics from the its effects.
Emp resistant solar panels. A solar panel itself may be inherently resistant to emp to some extent. The solar panels themselves should be fine. But if damage occurs it is likely due to the wires between the solar panel and most often the solar charge controller. Quantum harvest manufactures a comprehensive line of portable emp protected solar power systems non emp protected smaller units and premade faraday boxes for the safe storage of electronic items.
They do suffer some damage reducing their output by about five percent but they will still work. However most solar panels use of diodes to control current flow. What we do know is that emps are caused by both nuclear explosions and by the sun i e. And they don t have any sensitive electronic components inside.
Three ways you can protect your solar panels from an emp 1. They don t contain any wires or antennae top pick up the emp s energy. Your home s solar panels after an emp. Sol ark all in one solar generator system power through whatever happens where to buy add batteries and or panels to a sol ark for any of these applications.
Oddly enough the simplest thing you can do to protect your personal electrical grid from an emp. Most solar panels can survive emps caused by natural phenomenon like lightning within a close range. They even make it easy to plug batteries in to get you through the day after the grid goes down. They might have a slight reduction in output after being subject to an emp maybe about 5.
You can expect a similar situation after a nuclear emp. Their output might be decreased slightly but usually they ll still work. But you ll need to protect the batteries and voltage inverter which are still at risk of being destroyed by the emp so you should keep spares in a faraday bag. Sol ark solar inverters are emp hardened meaning they re specifically designed to withstand all the disruptions of an emp whether it comes from a nuclear weapon or the sun.
If lightning strikes within about 500 feet your panels will be fine although the wiring and circuitry connected to them will often be destroyed. The solar panels themselves are immune to high voltage surges. Securing a renewable source of electric power for water pumps refrigeration and sanitation is a prudent step. Surprisingly enough solar panels can weather an emp fairly well.