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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The subject of EMP comes up from time to time,
usually when real catastrophes occur or imagined catastrophes are expected to
occur. In the 1960s, the US military thought that an EMP would affect
semiconductors so all the electronics at the nuclear missile base where I was
stationed had tubes instead of transistors. Meanwhile, the civilian world was
going solid-state. Sure, you can harden your equipment, but no one has ever
reported a problem with a PV system as the result of an EMP. I'm reminded of a
phone call I got in 1984 from a PV customer living in southern Utah who
called himself a survivalist. He asked how his solar module would be
affected by an EMP from a nuclear blast. I asked him if he planned to watch the
end of civilization on his solar powered TV and told him to get a
life.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
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style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org
href="mailto:drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org">Drake</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 19, 2011 7:53
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Electromagnetic
Pulse (EMP)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hello Wrenches,<BR><BR>I had an inquiry concerning the effect
of EMP on photovoltaic systems. We are heading for a period of solar
activity that likely will produce this effect. According to a local AEP
(American Electric Power) representative, the utility is spending a lot of
money to counter this anticipated problem. Additionally, nuclear related
issues are moving back to the front burner. <BR><BR>It is clear that the
pulse would damage an inverter, but possibly it could be put in a Faraday
cage. But a number of questions arise.
<UL>
<LI>Would the pulse damage the modules?
<LI>Could the large currents and voltages induced by EMP damage the
conductors in the cells?
<LI>Even if the inverters were surrounded by a Faraday cage, would induced
currents & voltages from the modules harm the inverters?
<UL>
<LI>Would series fuses and surge protectors be adequate protection.
</LI></UL></LI></UL>Has any research been done in this area? Does anyone
know answers to any of these questions?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Drake
<BR><BR><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP><FONT color=#0000ff>Drake
Chamberlin<X-TAB> </X-TAB>
<BR>Athens Electric<BR>OH License
44810<X-TAB> </X-TAB><BR>CO
license 3773<BR>NABCEP Certified PV<BR></FONT>
<P>
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