See an EMP in action

[610Alpha]

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/7102-electromagnetic-pulse-bomb-video.htm

[WiseOwl]

What if you jump started the car or put in a new starter?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

What if you jump started the car or put in a new starter?

supposedly it will fry the computer and if it gets everyone in the area what would you jump the car with?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

supposedly it will fry the computer and if it gets everyone in the area what would you jump the car with?

Ok i watched the vid and i understand the question now but when we trained in the Army we buried our batteries because they told us it would kill them too, truth is no one knows for sure

[WiseOwl]

supposedly it will fry the computer and if it gets everyone in the area what would you jump the car with?

A crate of lemons and some copper wire.....:)

[610Alpha]

It was interesting to see that the battery still worked on the vehicle...not sure if a larger EMP would knock it out as well or not.

I was a 63W10, All Wheeled Vehicle Repairer and not once did they ever tell us anything about an EMP. The only thing remotely close was in basic and they said if you see a mushroom cloud to stick your head between your knees and kiss your arse good bye...oh and don't look in the direction of the bright light cause it can blind you...lol...that would be the least of my worries.

[Bearman202]

I've seen that video before. The comments then were that this demonstration was fairly low-powered, and lasted only a millisecond. A CME could produce a much stronger pulse, and last for minutes. Of interest, I get how the battery wouldn't be affected, because it doesn't have any circuits in it. Likewise a simple electric motor. Anything with a circuit board would have a problem though. If it went on long enough, it might affect those also. I don't know. My impression is that an EMP consists of a huge amounts of electrons flowing around everything at the same time. I've seen it explained that because it hits all over, at the same time, a surge suppressor would be useless. (Hits both sides of the suppressor at the same time.) I hope I never see it happen, but in today's world?

[Urban Survivalist]

It was interesting to see that the battery still worked on the vehicle...not sure if a larger EMP would knock it out as well or not.

I was a 63W10, All Wheeled Vehicle Repairer and not once did they ever tell us anything about an EMP. The only thing remotely close was in basic and they said if you see a mushroom cloud to stick your head between your knees and kiss your arse good bye...oh and don't look in the direction of the bright light cause it can blind you...lol...that would be the least of my worries.

I was a 63S Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and we must have had the same training. "Listen boys remember Head to knees and kiss it goodby, Now go fix that truck."

[Klayton]

Ok i watched the vid and i understand the question now but when we trained in the Army we buried our batteries because they told us it would kill them too, truth is no one knows for sure

Ahhh the good old days, I use to make my new privates test for soft spots on our armored personnel carriers, LMAO...

Just messin' with ya Matt. :) I have no idea what an EMP would do to a lead battery,,,

[arcangel911]

Also, please notice that the car used is a 90's ford taurus..... I used to drive one....

That being said, the cars of today are incredible computer dependent. As Matt stated above, no one really knows what will happen to cars under a large EMP.

I just worry about the gas pumps. With a car running, it is only a matter of time before you need gas......

[Matt In Oklahoma]

A crate of lemons and some copper wire.....:)

hahahaha you'd better get to humpin that bag there Gilligan cause McGayver aint gonna be in the passenger seat! LOL

[brokedownbiker]

I was a 63S Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and we must have had the same training. "Listen boys remember Head to knees and kiss it goodby, Now go fix that truck."

Ha, I was a 63B10, think there is a pattern here? When you fix things for a living that were broken by others, it makes you learn to prepare for the worst?

[HDM]

What if you jump started the car or put in a new starter?

It would not be necessary to jump the car as the battery was still good. Since the window motors were still good the odds are that the starter motor is still good also. The problem is that it fries the electronic controls that make everything work.

[WiseOwl]

Yeah it will be tough to keep ECM's pre programmed on some of the newer ones.....I have replaced late 90's model Ford F150's with ECMS from the junkyard and they worked fine.

[sardog]

I wonder if there have been any tests on vehicles with a ground strap. I keep one on mine because my Amateur radio antennas will create quite a static charge especially in the winter. Touch the door handle and you will get a significant zap if you don't. You can buy these rubberized straps at NAPA and bolt them to a clean spot on your frame and they drag the ground under the vehicle.