Understanding Electromagnetic Threats and the Need for
Protection
In todays world our homes vehicles businesses and electronic
systems rely heavily on electricity and sensitive electronic devices. From
everyday appliances and computers to solar systems and communication equipment
modern living is interwoven with electronics. Along with this reliance comes
vulnerability. Risks such as lightning strikes power surges solar flares and
the rare but potentially disastrous electromagnetic pulse EMP threaten our
electric infrastructure. A strong EMP jolt or surge can destroy your valuable
electronics permanently. That is why reliable protection becomes critical.
One of such solutions that purports to protect from these
threats is EMP Shield. In this
blog we explore what EMP Shield is how it
works what it promises criticisms against it and what factors you should
consider before investing in protection like this.
What Is EMP Shield
EMP Shield is a
technology and product line designed to protect an entire electrical system
from electromagnetic pulse lightning coronal mass ejections and power surges. EMP Shield.
According to the creators EMP Shield was born
out of a need for robust protection surpassing that offered by conventional
surge protectors. The founders of the company initially started working on a
project involving solar electrostatic waves and designed a surge protector
intended for use in that project. Eventually the team realized a nuclear high
altitude EMP HEMP had the capability to induce electrical surges that were far
more powerful than normal lightning or grid surges and they began to devise
something reusable and stronger
Unlike earlier military grade surge protectors which were
mainly single use and very expensive EMP Shield aims to
offer a reusable solution for homes businesses vehicles solar installations and
even smaller platforms like boats RVs or motorcycles.
The product line includes home models for houses up to
certain sizes vehicle versions solar DC models for solar setups and portable or
micro versions for smaller electrical platforms.
How EMP Shield Works
At its heart EMP Shield acts like
a really fast very powerful surge protector. When an overvoltage event a burst
of EMP for example or a lightning strike or sudden grid surge occurs EMP Shield instantly
detects the surge and shunts the excess voltage away from the protected
electrical system diverting the damaging surge to ground or isolating it before
it can harm connected electronics.
The speed of response is critical. EMP claims the device
begins shunting in under one nanosecond one billionth of a second much faster
than many conventional surge protectors.
In addition to EMP and nuclear style pulses the device is
also intended to provide protection against solar flares coronal mass ejections
lightning strikes and general power surges offering a broad spectrum of
protection.
This makes EMP Shield a whole
system protector: every electronic and electrical appliance connected to the
system including home appliances computers vehicles solar installations and
more is protected rather than only individual devices.
It also claims that the EMP Shield has been
subjected to extreme testing at a laboratory approved and recognized by the
appropriate defense authorities exceeding several military standards related to
EMP resistance electromagnetic interference control and environmental safety.
Key Features Claimed Advantages
Based on EMP Shield and other
related sources herein are the primary benefits and features that the product
avails to its customers:
Whole home and whole system protection: Instead of
protecting just one outlet or device EMP Shield is
engineered to shield an entire home business vehicle solar setup or other
electrical system.
Highspeed response The device begins shunting overvoltage
surges in under one nanosecond. Such speed is highly critical against EMPs and
sudden voltage spikes.
Full spectrum threat protection: EMP lightning solar flares CME
and general power surges are all within the scope of protection thus providing
a flexible approach to defense.
Military standard certification: The device is tested
against and claimed to exceed several military and electromagnetic interference
standards.
Scalability and variety: EMP Shield offers
multiple models to fit different needs from homes to vehicles generators solar arrays
portable systems and more.
Ease of installation In home models installation involves
wiring to the breaker box making it accessible for electricians to set up.
If fully functional these features represent a comprehensive
way of protecting electronics and infrastructure against various electrical
hazards.
Criticisms Skepticism and Community Concerns
Despite the far reaching claims and the technical
specifications EMP Shield has also
attracted a degree of skepticism most especially from some members of online
electrical and engineering communities. Some of the main concerns and
criticisms by skeptics and critics are outlined below.
Arguments by Skeptics
Some say EMP Shield is no
more than a surge protector it is not a full EMP Shield. One user
voiced his opinion on a technical forum:
This is just a small box that is supposed to hook up to your
house fuse board or your car battery there is no way this can protect against
EMP sits a complete scam. reddit.com
Others said it appears that the internal parts are very
simple possibly just MOVs and LEDs in a plastic box and the marketing greatly
exaggerates what the device can realistically do.
One critique is that merely having passed an EMP test at
some testing facility does not prove protection in real life situations
concerning devices actually connected especially if the device was not
connected to real equipment during the testing. As one skeptic noted Sure it
was tested but just an unpowered breaker box and a bunch of wire
Some in the prepper and electrical engineering communities
believe the only truly reliable protection from a nuclear level EMP or high
intensity pulse is a full shielding strategy such as a Faraday cage rather than
a surge protector based device.
What This Means in Practice
Given these criticisms many professionals suggest caution:
even if EMP Shield provides
excellent surge protection for example from lightning or grid surges its
effectiveness against a full scale EMP event most particularly one caused by a
nuclear explosion overhead remains debated. Surge protectors along with devices
like EMP Shield may not
replicate the comprehensive shielding a Faraday cage or specialized hardened
facility would offer.
Also EMP events are extremely rare and therefore investment
in such protection against high altitude nuclear EMP affecting civilian
electronics may be considered overkill by many users especially if weighed
against cost and uncertainty.
What Independent Reports and Users Say
There are some third party reviews and assessments of EMP Shield beyond
just developer claims and skeptic forums. On one side sites dedicated to
analyzing EMP protection devices have been somewhat supportive:
Some of the reviews conclude that EMP Shield is not a
scam citing its proclaimed compliance with military standards rapid response
times and high surge capacity. 5Minute Reviews+2PRWeb+2
Proponents argue that for everyday threats like lightning
surges solar flair induced grid surges or even lower intensity EMP like events EMP Shield may offer
a sensible layer of defense beyond a simple plugin surge protector.
But there remains a lack of widely accepted independently
verified evidence that EMP Shield can
reliably protect consumer electronics from a full spectrum high altitude
nuclear EMP while connected powered and in normal use. This is a fact echoed
across many critical reviews on consumer platforms pointing out this gray area
and raising quality of value concerns.
One independent review site said some users find
installation easy and performance satisfactory for surge events while also
expressing criticism about the lack of advanced features like real time
monitoring or alerts
What to Consider Before Investing
Given the benefits and controversies here are some factors
to consider if you are thinking about buying EMP Shield
Purpose & Risk Profile: If your purpose is to protect
against common threats such as lightning power surges or solar related surges
then EMP Shield can
provide meaningful protection. As a prepper if you are preparing for a nuclear
EMP event no plugin box can give you complete assurance of protection you may
have to opt for more comprehensive solutions like shielding Faraday cages and
redundant systems.
Cost vs Benefit: Compare the cost of the device against the
value of the equipment being protected. For high value electronics solar
installations or critical systems the potential benefit might outweigh cost.
Installation and Electrical Setup: Make sure you have a good electrician or
installer. Proper installation is critical for any surge protection to work
right. Expectations versus reality: EMP Shield is not a
magic invincibility box. While EMP Shield represents
rapid surge protection there are voices of independent experts who treat its
claims to fully counter EMP events skeptically. Other Additional Protection:
Consider whether other protective measures might serve your needs better such
as metal shielding surge protected power strips redundant systems or fuse
systems offline backups. Conclusion: Balanced View on EMP Shield The
underlying idea of EMP Shield is
intriguing: with electronics becoming increasingly critical in everyday life
protecting them against sudden surges or electromagnetic events is a concern.
In that line of thought EMP Shield takes it
to the next level: it offers a very technically ambitious solution a device
designed to protect entire electrical systems from EMPs lightning solar flares
and surges military grade tested with fast response times and a broad product
lineup. At the same time there isnt any consensus that EMP Shield guarantees
full reliable protection under every worst case scenario especially those
involving high altitude nuclear EMP events. Critics and many technical experts
argue that the only truly dependable defense against such extreme events
involves full physical shielding or a Faraday cage not a plugin surge arrestor.
For most homeowners businesses and solar system owners EMP Shield may add a
layer of protection mostly from common threats such as lightning or grid
surges. But again it should not be viewed as a silver bullet. Cost risk
installation quality and realistic expectations must be carefully weighed by
anyone considering EMP Shield. If you
like thorough preventive planning an EMP Shield can be
one component of your larger protective strategy. If you seek absolute
assurance against worst case events caused by EMPs however you will want to consider
additional protection.