this post was submitted on 30 May 2022
11 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

34862 readers
25 users here now

This is the official technology community of Lemmy.ml for all news related to creation and use of technology, and to facilitate civil, meaningful discussion around it.


Ask in DM before posting product reviews or ads. All such posts otherwise are subject to removal.


Rules:

1: All Lemmy rules apply

2: Do not post low effort posts

3: NEVER post naziped*gore stuff

4: Always post article URLs or their archived version URLs as sources, NOT screenshots. Help the blind users.

5: personal rants of Big Tech CEOs like Elon Musk are unwelcome (does not include posts about their companies affecting wide range of people)

6: no advertisement posts unless verified as legitimate and non-exploitative/non-consumerist

7: crypto related posts, unless essential, are disallowed

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Ive been thinking about nuclear war quite a bit lately, I dont feel anxious but I do like to feel prepared. While I think the main priority should be food and water for the ensuing famine, having a laptop might be beneficial (obviously no internet though).

Ive heard about bombs knocking out telecommunication, but do they also fuck up the personal electronics permamently of people who are far enough away not to be killed by the blasts?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] mrpalmer16@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I can answer your electronics worry, but not the nuclear one. A small Faraday cage would work to protect your devices.

[–] AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

A tutorial on Faraday cages:

https://yewtu.be/watch?v=EiNQbWZFe-E

Something that I've noticed that a lot of people don't talk about is that feraday cages need to be grounded. The most reliable way to do this is probably by connecting it to the ground prong on your wall outlet (be extremely careful not to connect it to the live prong or you will die!) A metal cold water (not hot water) pipe could also work, or as a more "idiot proof" option, take an old computer power supply with a non-painted metal casing, plug it in with a three prong grounded power cable (but turn OFF the power switch on the back of the PSU), and use an alligator clip to connect your Faraday cage to the metal casing, being careful not to touch any of the internals. Before plugging the power supply in though, you might want to use a multimeter to check for conductivity between the ground prong on the PSU itself and the connection to the feraday cage.

Though, some places, like Japan, straight up doesn't have a ground prong on their outlets. I have no idea how to do this for those, or honestly, even how the hell they keep their electrical systems safe

[–] Tiuku@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I fail to understand why it needs to be grounded. I tried to search a bit but no one seems to have a physical account for their claims.

[–] AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Basically, the energy needs to go somewhere. A feraday cage isn't meant to absorb EM energy, but to redirect it safely away from sensitive electronics. Otherwise, itcoulds still transfer that energy into your electronics.

For example, EMI shields inside your electronics, which are technically feraday cages, are grounded.

Video explaining the physics of feraday cages: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=eNxDgd3D_bU

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Even when you can save your computer, how will you save electric power plants or server stations? In case of an EMP atack, the PC is useless, apart your minor problem. Happy those who live on the outskirts on a farm with orchard, chickens and a well with water, to have to eat and drink, all this in an EMP attack is no longer available.