Will Emp Destroy Solar Panels

In this post we explain the difference between solar flares cmes and emps their potential impact on battery based off grid solar power systems and ways to be prepared.

Will emp destroy solar panels.

If there was an electromagnetic pulse would you know how to protect your solar panels from an emp. Solar panels there s an asterisk to this one for a reason. However an emp would likely damage the connecting wires through which the current flows. Depending on the strength of the electromagnetic pulse emp most solar panels would likely not be affected.

If a nuclear weapon of sufficient size is detonated high in the atmosphere an emp can disrupt everything that uses electronic circuitry potentially causing irreversible damage to electronics in cars airplanes the u s. Photovoltaic pv solar panels battery banks and all other components of an off grid solar power system would not be affected by an emp directly as they have no circuitry within. But will your solar panels survive the attack. Electric grid and yes your home solar system.

The majority of solar panels would probably not be damaged. The larger your solar array the more likely is that an emp will damage other equipment associated with your solar rig like your inverter wiring and charge controller. Since solar power systems are typically designed to provide more power than needed to account for cloudy days those who have solar panels on their homes will still have some electrical power for a while even though it will be. These solar events are not dangerous to infrastructure on earth.

They do suffer some damage reducing their output by about five percent but they will still work. A large solar emp on the other hand has the power to set civilization back to the stone age. Solar panels can withstand an emp very well but the solar charger controller that charges the batteries and the voltage inverter that converts the power created from that battery are going to be in bad shape. As of yet our electrical infrastructure has only experienced a solar emp large enough to knock out satellites in orbit.

However the larger the solar array is the more likely that there will be damage to the supporting equipment including the wiring charge controller and inverter. A manmade emp is a secondary cause. Solar panels like all semiconductor devices are not protected against emp check the solar event in the 1800s telegraph wires were melted fires were started anything a quarter inch long or longer will be a good antenna for an emp burst so even if the solar cells themselves were not damaged the leads to each cell will probably be destroyed. The potential for solar flares cmes or emps to damage off grid solar power systems is an issue of concern to our security focused clients.