When Martians Invade...

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Mon 25 Jul 2005 13:20
When Martians Invade... - David Horn
Went to see War of the Worlds last night, which is a great film. Anyway, noticed that the EMP pulse knocked out all the cars - would we be largely OK in Europe because we run mostly diesel engines?

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Mon 25 Jul 2005 13:26
When Martians Invade... - Chas{P}
We wouldn't be ok.

Most modern diesels have ECU's that would be zapped by an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse)

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Mon 25 Jul 2005 14:07
When Martians Invade... - volvoman
I can't help thinking that HMG will have done for the humble car driver long before martians get here :(
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Mon 25 Jul 2005 14:29
When Martians Invade... - madf
EMP would kill any system with integrated circuits.
So dashboard gone.
ABS gone.
Air con gone.
Speedo gone (where it's electronic).
Any electronic control of engine temperature.
The security system gone : so car can't be started.
Maybe the current surge would be big enough to kill any relays.
Radio and CD of course would be toast.
Remote central locking : fried.

Fuse box? dunno?
Alternator: I expect the diode pack would be burnt out.


Apart from that your car would be eminently driveable:-)

madf


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Mon 25 Jul 2005 14:35
When Martians Invade... - Blue {P}
I watched that film (which by the way I thought was rubbish) but what I couldn't help notice was that after the EMP went off and they were pushing the cars around some of the interior lights in the supposedly zapped cars were on. Would they really still work after an EMP pulse?

Another thing that I hope someone can answer is what happens if the EMP happened whilst a car or electronic device was switched off? Would it still disable the car? Would it make any difference if the battery was disconnected when it went off?

Blue
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Mon 25 Jul 2005 14:48
When Martians Invade... - Xileno {P}
Long live the Morris Minor...

Maybe not.
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Mon 25 Jul 2005 17:10
When Martians Invade... - Tomo
Or a Stanley: or any car with a magneto (they tended to be the more interesting ones).
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Mon 25 Jul 2005 17:43
When Martians Invade... - Edward
The Faraday cage formed by the metal body shell must protect the electronics a bit - certainly helps with large electrostatic discharges such as lightening.
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Mon 25 Jul 2005 17:48
When Martians Invade... - madf
>Blue
as I understand EMP, it generates a massive electric field which produces current in any metal in the vicinity. Disconnecting a battery may save some circuits but it would not stop large currents being generated in all electric coils : like starter motor/alternator/ variable reistors. etc which would ground to earth - the car body. the car body would also have currents generated in it to which the ECU/other circuits are connected.

imo disconnection would not work as the currents generated would be 1. too strong and 2. in random directions and possibly of incorrect polarity. Connect any integrated circuit to the wrong polarity or worse to an alternating current (which is likely) and bang..And any capacitors would also blow as would probably all the bulbs..

madf


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Tue 26 Jul 2005 21:22
When Martians Invade... - Pugugly {P}
"Air con gone."

Oh no the Martians are coming and I'm going to sweat as well.

Buy a Landie..
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