What would happen when a sun flare destroys everything?

[DrPizza]

The question that I feel has never been adequately answered is what steps can be taken before the solar flare hits to minimize damage to the infrastructure. Electrical substations have air-break switches to isolate the substation from the grid. I would think that by shutting down the grid and isolating the substations before the solar flare hits that this would minimize the damage.

From what I understand, and perhaps I'm mistaken, but yes, there are fuses/switches, etc., which would reduce the amount of damage.

 

[crashtech]

A voluntary blackout might save the grid, but I don't see that being a very popular option.

 

[JeffMD]

The question that I feel has never been adequately answered is what steps can be taken before the solar flare hits to minimize damage to the infrastructure. Electrical substations have air-break switches to isolate the substation from the grid. I would think that by shutting down the grid and isolating the substations before the solar flare hits that this would minimize the damage.

The problem is the grid would sustain enough damage that it would be catastrophic, and NO part of the grid would be functional for weeks. It would be a year for a majority of it to be up and running again. And of course anything on it would be fried. Its a 50/50 if offline stuff is effected, we probably don't have anything within reach that could protect from solar flair emf, but maybe on things so small there isn't enough distance for electrons to move and generate unsafe power.

Also %100 of satellites would be wiped out. Cable tv would probably never be rebuilt, but rather a government subsidies data network would be launched several years out. From there we would obtain all video streams from the internet. Overall not a bad thing.

 

[Bart*Simpson]

Just me but starting a few years back when I started upgrading hard drives it became my habit to put the old hard drive in a static-free bag and then that goes inside my gun safe which also turns out to be an effective Faraday cage.

Meaning that after the total collapse of civilization when everyone is scrambling for food, medicine, and protecting from roving bands of looters I'll still be able to play Battlefield 1942.

Got to have my priorities, you know.

 

[sm625]

When the millions of obama folks find that they cant use their EBT cards you better get the heck out of dodge. As soon as you hear something like this is coming you got about a day at most to find someone who is selling an old car/truck that uses a points-based distributor, obtain the critical spare parts for it, load it up with tools and supplies, and get to the country.

 

[crashtech]

My beater '83 Chevy pickup we keep to haul stuff, has electronic ignition in the form of HEI. Even my old hot rod has a Pertronics conversion kit and an MSD box. Very few running vehicles left with points any more.

 

[John Connor]

to put the old hard drive in a static-free bag and then that goes inside my gun safe which also turns out to be an effective Faraday cage.

Your safe is grounded?

 

[DrDoug]

My beater '83 Chevy pickup we keep to haul stuff, has electronic ignition in the form of HEI. Even my old hot rod has a Pertronics conversion kit and an MSD box. Very few running vehicles left with points any more.

I run dual ignitions in our Mustang with the main ignition an MSD 6T w/ remote timing control and adjustable rev limiter that is triggered by a dual point ignition. The backup ignition switches the dual point distributor and coil over to a ballast resistor circuit in the event the MSD system fails, which has happened once.

I'm ready for some rays!

 

[John Connor]

My uncle has a horse and buggy... Bring on the rays! LOL

Horse's name is Sinbad BTW.

 

[MongGrel]

Mine is named Pistol. Well my wife's, I ridden him now and then.

I really do not want a horse, but that is another topic I won't delve into.

 

[Jaepheth]

We hit a snag technologically. Prices go up as the world adapts. Probably hundreds of thousands if not millions die from riots/famine/infrastructure collapse as the technology that keeps our overpopulation propped up stops working for awhile.

Might see stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4IJlrwWoaE