In our tech-driven world, where everything from smartphones to home appliances relies on delicate electronics, the threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) looms larger than ever.
OK, here's a query - like a lot of folks I have a firearms safe with an electronic keypad. A year or so ago I realized that was possibly a liability in the event of an EMP so when I inherited a number of firearms I went out and bought a second safe, this one with a keypad PLUS a key backup. If the keypad fails, you remove it and insert key. I put all the heritage firearms in the old safe and the ready-use firearms in the key safe. This leaves me with a safe that could be unusable after an EMP. My question is this - how would you protect that keypad? Couple layers of aluminum foil? A layer or two of thermal barrier? I've done some looking around and can't find any sort of answer so any input would be appreciated and spread among my friends.
Great question. I think the non-keypad is the best option but since you already have this safe, you need to make sure it's well grounded for one. Your options are to install EMP-rated surge protectors or transient voltage suppressors on the keypad’s power and signal lines or you can try and shield the keypad’s internal electronics with a homemade faraday cage of some kind that's made of copper, aluminum, or steel so that it blocks external electromagnetic fields. You could wrap the whole safe in a faraday cage too but that might be hard if it's a big safe. There is also the option to replace the keypad with one designed to military or industrial EMP standards (MIL-STD-461).
OK, here's a query - like a lot of folks I have a firearms safe with an electronic keypad. A year or so ago I realized that was possibly a liability in the event of an EMP so when I inherited a number of firearms I went out and bought a second safe, this one with a keypad PLUS a key backup. If the keypad fails, you remove it and insert key. I put all the heritage firearms in the old safe and the ready-use firearms in the key safe. This leaves me with a safe that could be unusable after an EMP. My question is this - how would you protect that keypad? Couple layers of aluminum foil? A layer or two of thermal barrier? I've done some looking around and can't find any sort of answer so any input would be appreciated and spread among my friends.
Great question. I think the non-keypad is the best option but since you already have this safe, you need to make sure it's well grounded for one. Your options are to install EMP-rated surge protectors or transient voltage suppressors on the keypad’s power and signal lines or you can try and shield the keypad’s internal electronics with a homemade faraday cage of some kind that's made of copper, aluminum, or steel so that it blocks external electromagnetic fields. You could wrap the whole safe in a faraday cage too but that might be hard if it's a big safe. There is also the option to replace the keypad with one designed to military or industrial EMP standards (MIL-STD-461).
Excellent post. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found it useful Rosemary :)
Thanks! Look forward to reading more of your work.