Fariday cage and back up power

[G0JJR]

I'm thinking about building a shack within my precast concrete garage, a kind of structure within a structure. Well while thinking about how I would construct it I wondered if I should incluFaradayraday shield, ie a layer of wire mesh, and would this gain me anything as I just watched Discovery channel's Perfect Disaster Solar Storm. Yes another repeat.
But I was wondering how protected our rigs are. In the event of a big solar storm, electrical interference or even EMP, would we be able to cope. Especially for emergency use.

I guess older rigs would be better able to shrug it off, not having micro chips in them just tubes. but the newer models all have lots of ICs in. They would be fried, right?

I was also wondering if any other Radio Ham had faraday caged their shacks?
I know it sounds like overkill but you never know right!
I know some people have generators in case of blackouts and the like. I was thinking about running from a rechargeable power supply (backup), any thoughts on that?


Just a thought.

Let me know what you think.

Dave, G0JJR

[VK5MW]

I wouldn't bother with the cage myself. Just the thought of the required isolations alone is enough to put me off that idea. I'm not really sure but wouldn't a solar storm of that magnitude make radio unusable due to extreme noise levels?

[K4GLL]

 How much of a problem it would pose to build would depend on the size of the room you plan to protect. If it were a full garage it would take a lot of fine-mesh metal screen. If it were more of a walk-in-closet type ham shack then, not so much. Either way the entire area has to be enclosed and the enclosure has to be earth grounded. It wouldn't be a difficult project, just like everything else, time and money. I would have to have the enclosure built into the walls so it looked like a normal room, I couldn't stand looking at wire screen whenever I went in my shack
  I see this is an old post, please re-post if you have built anything. Thanks.

[G0JJR]

I never did get around to building the shack in the garage, I've spent the last year fighting to keep my house, second time in the last 4 years. Its a long story!

However, its not a large garage, approx 7ft x 18ft x 6ft at lowist point, So I was thinking of lining it with insulated plasterboard to make it warmer and if I did that it would be easy to line it with steel mesh before fitting the plasterboard.

There is also a ground stake just outside the garge as well as 2 30ft towers, so it would all be possible.

If I do stay in the house I will consider doing it again, but will have to see.

Regards

Dave, G0JJR

[KF5KGN]

Just a quick note; I picked up an aluminum halliburton case designed for some kind of instrumentation.     It is about 28" wide, 24" tall and 24" deep.     It has facilities for a fan and the front door opens to  lay down like a table, (it also has a door in the rear that folds down.).     I am likely going to install a 706 in it and perhaps a laptop.      It has carry handles and seems a nifty premade Faraday cage with little modification.     It also give me a rig that can be moved about a bit.     I am an incomplete quadriplegic so carrying things is generally not an option.     There are a few locations here in this small valley and on the ranch in Colorado and this seems a fairly handy way to move my station about a bit keeping everything together and somewhat safe.

[OH2FFY]

I'm thinking about building a shack within my precast concrete garage, a kind of structure within a structure. Well while thinking about how I would construct it I wondered if I should incluFaradayraday shield, ie a layer of wire mesh, and would this gain me anything as I just watched Discovery channel's Perfect Disaster Solar Storm. Yes another repeat.
But I was wondering how protected our rigs are. In the event of a big solar storm, electrical interference or even EMP, would we be able to cope. Especially for emergency use.

I guess older rigs would be better able to shrug it off, not having micro chips in them just tubes. but the newer models all have lots of ICs in. They would be fried, right?

I was also wondering if any other Radio Ham had faraday caged their shacks?

Hi there

A shack in a Faraday cage is probably not going to be practical to make.
The main problem is that the cage must be sealed , and that means , no cables in or out that can conduct electrical energy.

In all honesty , having your shack wiped out by an electromagnetic storm or an EM pule weapon is not high.

However , for the 'happily paranoid' a simpler and far easier option is available.
Simply, put your rig in the trash can ,,,, no , I am completely serious.

Get an aluminium trash can with a matching fitted lid and pop a spare rig inside and put the lid on.
This should be a good seal already but if your really obsessed you can tape around the lids join with conducting aluminium tape or something similar.

If the worst did happen , then you can retrieve your rig from the trash can and it will still be working.

Good solutions to most problems need not be overcomplicated.

gregW:-)  OH2FFY

[G0JJR]

Hi, Thanks for the reply, but the original idea was over a year ago and health problems have overtaken the building of a shack in the garage, but never mind.



Paranoid –

I know I’m Paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?


Regards

Dave, G0JJR