Q&A for How to Make a Faraday Cage

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Would copper pots, washtub boilers, etc. make a good Faraday cage?

Community Answer

So long as the containers are conductive and can seal properly, those should work pretty well. These would be able to protect small electronics such as cell phones and the like.

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Question

Can I make a Faraday cage for a car's motor?

Mick Johnson

Community Answer

You can, but you are then speaking about mothballing a car because all of the sensitive electronic components need protected. You may wish to look at a bicycle motor if you are mechanically inclined, or perhaps an old, old car or surplus jeep: no electronics. A Model T replica, or an actual, maybe a Willy's or something. Heck a golf cart with a lawn mower engine might be what you like best, or you might just be better off with a horse or a good mule because they can thread their way through the throngs of cars that were turned into boulders. Best wishes either way!

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Question

To make a trashcan Faraday cage, would galvanized cans work the same?

Community Answer

Yes, any conductive metal will work. Silver is the best choice, but very expensive.

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Question

I want to build a Faraday cage for a portable generator. Can you give me some tips?

Community Answer

You would have to disconnect the generator completely and make sure no cables are outside of the cage, then take a large metal trash can and coat the inside with plastic. There is no need to wrap the generator in plastic as long as there are layers of plastic and metal completely encasing it from the outside. It must be completely airtight to avoid empty exposure.

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Question

Could I just use a normal plastic trash bag instead of plastic wrap?

Mick Johnson

Community Answer

Yes. The key is that it is sturdy enough, if your conductive material punches a hole through your insulating layer you will be making an antenna instead. Remember that most devices run on micro volts and an EMP can subject these to thousands of volts in load equivalent amperage.

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Question

If I am inside my car with my cell phone and iPad, are they protected, or would they still need to be wrapped in foil?

Community Answer

Your car does not act as a Faraday cage. It does not block signals.

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Question

Would I be able to build a cage for a stand by 3/phase generator and transfer switch?

Community Answer

For a large scale object like that, it might be best to build a sort of structure or cube using a brass or bronze screening or mesh. Build it using 2x4s for the frame, then staple the mesh around all sides and along the bottom. Alternating layers with plastic sheathing between mesh would even be better but the plastic would not allow airflow, so obviously you wouldn't want to run fuel burning generator inside of it for very long, as it would kill you if you were to be overcome by the fumes.

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Question

Can I put a Faraday Cage around my phone and still use it?

Community Answer

That depends on what you mean by "use it". You might be able to successfully operate the on/off button but the capacitive touch screen will not work while appropriately wrapped and the sound would be seriously muffled at best.

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Question

Will making a giant capacitor have any effect on protecting my electronic device?

Community Answer

No, it won't cause a capacitor is also an electronic device and it won't store any induced current from an EMP. So, it will be fried too.

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Question

Can I make a wooden drawer into a Faraday cage if I line it with foil, plastic film and fabric?

Community Answer

Yes, because you would have turned something made of wood into something made with something metal.

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Question

Can I use paintable rubber and a 40-foot cargo container as a protective room?

Community Answer

If you can ensure that is is airtight and doesn't have any leaks or exposed metal, yes.

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Question

How would a Faraday cage need to be built to protect a handheld GPS?

Michael Riley

Community Answer

The same as the instructions above. Wrap it in a plastic bag, then wrap it with foil. The more alternating layers, the more protection. If you have 3 to 5 alternating layers, you shouldn't have to worry about too much.

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Question

Can I make a protection for my iPhone with an aluminum pan (one that came with a meal) by turning it upside down over my iPhone with a straight piece of aluminum foil on the bottom?

Minecraft Tan

Community Answer

It is not enough to insulate your phone from the EMP waves. It is best to place your device in a plastic bag and wrap it with aluminium foil for extra protection.

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Question

How long would your items need to stay in the Faraday cage if there is an EMP?

Minecraft Tan

Community Answer

After the EMP blast, leave the items there for 24 hours or more, till there are no more signs of another EMP triggered bomb or EMP waves. Then you are clear to use it.

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Question

Would an EMP blast only come from above, so that only a roof barrier is necessary?

Community Answer

It would come from above, but it will reflect and refract off of things around a building. So just using protection on the roof would be pointless.

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Question

Can I wrap my car in a faraday cage?

Community Answer

A car is already a faraday cage, that's why you don't die when your car gets struck by lightning.

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Question

Can a plastic rolling suitcase be made into a faraday cage?

Community Answer

No, because it has to be made of something metal.

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