Faraday Protection: What Actually Works

We've covered what an EMP is and why that EMP Shield thing probably isn't going to save your electronics.

Now for the good stuff: what DOES work?

The Physics (In Plain English)

A Faraday cage is basically an umbrella for electromagnetic radiation.

When electromagnetic energy hits a conductive enclosure, it flows around the outside instead of penetrating to the inside. The key word is ENCLOSURE—complete coverage, no gaps, sealed properly.

Still with us? 😊

What Works: Commercial Options

We're not going to pretend these are cheap—they're not. We've bought ours slowly over time, adding one here and there as budget allows. But they work. And they work well.

Here's what we actually have:

What's Actually In OUR Bags

Here's where we are NOW (we started small—you can too):

That's a lot, right? But we didn't buy it all at once. We started with a NOAA radio and a phone-size bag. Then added walkie-talkies. Then a power bank. You get the idea.

Future goal? Build a proper Faraday enclosure around the gas generator in the garage. That's elite-level prepping, and we're not there yet. But it's on the list.

The DIY Option: Galvanized Trash Can Method

Can you build your own Faraday cage? Yes. Should you? That depends on how much time you have and how handy you are.

Here's the honest truth: We don't have a galvanized trash can Faraday cage.

We looked at the process. We thought about the time. We thought about testing and re-sealing every time we needed to access something. And we thought... who has time for this?

So we bought the Mission Darkness bags instead. They're tested. They work. They're easy to open and close without losing the seal.

But if you want to try the DIY approach, here's what you need:

The Process:

1. Line the inside with cardboard (fluting vertical for structure)
2. Address the lid gap with aluminum tape around the rim
3. Cover the handle rivets from the inside
4. Seal the lid seam with tape after closing

What Does NOT Work

Start Somewhere

You don't need to protect everything at once. Start with:

The goal isn't perfect protection of every electronic you own. The goal is ensuring you have SOME backup capability for power, communication, and information access.