Corona mass ejection and all our nice shiny kit. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: gb243
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 09:32:22 am
content: I have accumulated a range of test gear over the years that sit in racks awaiting use. What would happen if we (the Earth) got another Carrington event? Would the electromagnetic energy fry modern electronics? How could we protect ourselves for little cost and inconvenience. Here are some ideas for less frequently used equipment.1. Unplugging spare kit from power and putting shorts (using plugs/BNC etc) into all sockets relying on internal metal shielding.2. Wrapping a half dozen layers of heavy duty tin foil around the spare HF rig and sitting it at the back of the shack.3. Also wrapping 1/2 of the incredible number of test meters I have accumulated over the years.4. Rinse and repeat the above (spare internet router, TV, laptop etc.).Any frequently used equipment lives in a home made faraday cage with a front lid that is closed when nothing is in use. Mains cables unplugged and the access holes covered in a folding copper gauze.I know the electricity grid transformers are protected so mains power may not be lost. It would be nice to be able to continue the hobby after an event.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 09:44:45 am
content: Honestly, such a massive event will have effects on everything in your life, a non-working instrument is likely the smallest of your problems.

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 10:54:02 am
content: Your ideas are more appropriate for protection against nuclear explosion EMP. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but geomagnetic storms are very low frequency events, so they only induce significant currents into very large, long conductive objects, like power lines and other cables, which extend kilometers. Devices like laptops and test gear will be safe, because they are so small compared to geomagnetic storm wavelengths.

author: WatchfulEye
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 11:02:41 am
content: CMEs do not directly affect electronics (with the exception of spacecraft where various malfunctions or failures are possible; and where equipment is directly connected to hundred+ km range length wires, as some communications equipment might).There are, however, indirect risks.Power grids are potentially susceptible to malfunction due to quasi-DC current injection. This may result in tripping of protective devices with the risk of cascading trips and grid collapse and associated power quality problems. There is a claim that protective devices may be inadequate against the geomagnetic induced current and that damage of key infrastructure may occur resulting in prolonged failure.Telecommunications networks and increasingly power networks may rely on satellite communications, navigation and timing or similar services. Failure of the space segment of these services may impact ground based systems relying on them.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2022, 05:12:53 pm
content: The big issue is things that are connected to different "grids". So, gear that is connected to AC mains AND the phone system, or cable network are WAY more susceptible to damage from something like this. Nobody really knows, as the original Carringon event was in 1859, and not much was wired at that time. The telegraph network was just about it. they used the earth as the return on single-wire circuits, and had wet-cell batteries to power it. So, a computer that is connected to the power grid, and also to a cable modem, for instance, could get a HUGE voltage between those two outside-the-house connections. That is what is going to get things fried.Gear that is not connected to anything is likely to be safe. gear that is plugged into JUST one wall socket is less safe, but the low impedance of the mains transformer out on your power pole MIGHT provide protection. Likely, huge DC shifts will saturate utility transformers and the power grid will shut down at least temporarily, and some major transmission/distribution infrastructure may get damaged.Automobiles, trains and especially aircraft are likely to be unaffected, as they are essentially Faraday cages, and aircraft are expected to get hit by lightning on occasion. Aircraft navigation nowadays relies on GPS, and that network might get taken down by a Carrington event.Not sure I have answered your question.Jon

author: gb243
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2022, 09:09:27 am
content: I will own up and admit I was thinking EMP. I did not want to sound too much 'tin hat brigade'. I have decided when I have two of something one will be foil wrapped, put in a 35lt plastic clip down box and then the boxes in an old steel chest freezer (no mains lead on that as it is not used). It is amazing how much kit I have and how the cost adds up. The lab is in a second floor room with solar panels on both sides of the sloping roof. Apparently the panels can act as quite good shields in their own right.It is a good excuse to look at what I have and what I really need. Except the unprotected kit is always the less good. My Rigol 5000 in my opinion is horrible to use but will be a sacrificial scope which is good enough to use but I would shed no tears if it became bricked.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2022, 09:14:17 am
content: At least the Tittok/Instagram sh** would come to an end, two coronas please!

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2022, 01:34:25 pm
content: Quote from: Manul on October 21, 2022, 10:54:02 amThe major effect of a high altitude nuclear detonation is a geomagnetic storm. Ionization of the upper atmosphere allows it to interact with the Earth's magnetic field, "pushing" it around. The displaced geomagnetic field causes currents in conductors at ground level, and if the conductors are long enough, this becomes significant. The low frequency AC ground currents cause destructive saturation in power distribution transformers.So the only personal risk at ground level from a high altitude nuclear detonation, or an impact from a corona mass ejection, is to AC power line connected devices. In the past anything connected to the plain old telephone system was at risk also.

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2022, 11:01:18 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on October 23, 2022, 01:34:25 pmHmm, interesting. I think I read somewhere that a nuclear explosion EMP spectrum reaches UHF or even microwaves, so it can potentially damage electronics in which unintentionaly effective antennas are formed, like long PCB tracks, loops and so on.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2022, 09:44:46 am
content: The EMP pulse from a nuclear explosion may reach to very high frequencies, but the amplitude will go down. Just the distance gives quite some attenuation and if it is to close the EMP damage is the least to worry about.Modern instruments should be reasonable protected against ESD - it takes a hell lot of power through a parasitic antenna to exceed the power from an ESD event. A few unlucky devices with a relatively effective antenna and maybe some reseivers connected to an antenna may suffer, but many parts have a good chance to survive, especially if not powered on, when it hits. Modern EMI regulations also helps.The magnetic storm from the sun is more like a low frequency part and thus mainly a thing for the really large loops, like the mains grid and the transformers there. It is not so much extra high voltage, but the DC, very low frequency nature that can saturate transformers and blow fuses. The 110/230 V mains we get locally goes though several transformers and is grounded relative local - so nothing to really worry about, even with different grids, like phone, cable TV and maybe water pipes (often grounded too). Expect a power outage that can take a bit longer, as not all the fuses on the long distance grid may work properly and get replaced fast.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2022, 02:27:12 pm
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on October 24, 2022, 09:44:46 amMost equipment has a small capture area and is relatively resistant. If proximity causes a problem with the RF parts of EMP, then you likely have more pressing concerns. Note that low altitude detonations do not produce nearly the same level of geomagnetic disturbance. Nuclear weapons intended to produce maximum geomagnetic damage are detonated at the boundary of the atmosphere.QuoteWhen the largest power distribution transformers saturate, they tend to catastrophically fail and create high voltage spikes on their secondary causing damage to endpoint loads. The big power transformers can also be damaged such that they fail weeks to months later. There are plenty ofdescriptions and photographsof this on the internet.Quote from: Manul on October 23, 2022, 11:01:18 pmThat is a concern at shorter ranges. Equipment can also suffer soft failures where restarting or rebooting is necessary.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2022, 10:04:10 pm
content: Nuclear EMP is so fast and intense, you basically have no hope of equipment surviving it, except very small equipment, and very intentionally designed shielding.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_electromagnetic_pulseField strength on the order of 50kV/m, rise time ~5ns, give or take however much dispersion the ionosophere and propagation and reflection effects contribute.Even unplugged equipment is likely to suffer in those conditions. Just loose wires could spark between each other with that kind of field strength.Possibly a cell phone or wristwatch might survive. Test equipment, computers, infrastructure, unlikely.Shielding doesn't have to be extreme in terms of thickness say, but it needs to be comprehensive: no gaps, preferably welded seams, and substantial filtering and SPD where conductors must penetrate the shield (i.e., mains power). Communications could well be wireless e.g. through a 2.45 or 5GHz waveguide, which should still be protected somehow (do they still make gas TR switches for stuff like that?).CME in contrast is very slow, so the hazard is to long wires, in particular the loops made between earth, transmission lines, and their ground return connections. Because we obsessively ground everything, and, it's kind of a problem. But retrofitting is a thing, AFAIK. The only consequences for equipment, AFAIK, are due to mains fluctuations. Could be weirdness but likely nothing unexpected for the mains environment.EMP bombs are, AFAIK, somewhat inbetween, or backwards, as the risetime is gradual and the fall time is sudden (as the explosively-pumped device expands, then disintegrates, radiating its magnetic field), and needless to say the field strength and range is far less than a full sized nuke, but used tactically, you might expect a small facility or platoon to get technologically wiped out.Tim

author: mag_therm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2022, 06:06:11 pm
content: The Sun has rotated about 2263 times since the Carrington event.Here is a graph of 10.7 cm solar flux versus post Carrington Sun rotation number.For this graph I selected the flux intensity [10^-22W m-2 Hz-1] as adjusted based on varying distance of earth from sun.https://app.box.com/s/23o2anjhoxvselu91oyqeljis1jpbhclTech details are around here:https://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast-prevision/solar-solaire/solarflux/sx-3-en.phpThe data are being collected (since year 2004) and published daily by Space Weather CanadaSo the record, from download of fluxtable.txt, is now almost showing one complete 22 Earth-year geomagnetic cycle.