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Comment on The U.S. Just Ran a Solar Storm Emergency Drill. The Real Deal Would Be a Catastrophe

I’m glad this threat is at least starting to be taken seriously. As an amateur radio operator, I got incredibly interested in how the weather on the sun affects radio propagation and power management here on Earth.

Better a CME than an EMP just simply because there is at least some time to prepare for a massive CME. Whereas an EMP has absolutely no warning whatsoever.

In the event of a massive CME off-grid homes and buildings are likely to fare much better because they are not connected to the power grid. The problem comes with long transmission lines where incredibly large charge differentials can build up over distance. shorter wires can’t build up nearly the same amount of charge differential

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kalkulat@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

As an amateur radio operator, The high bands get wiped first! 80, 160, not so much (no ionosphere? ground wave still works. Easy to throw up a long wire … afterward). Hams (esp. ARES) will become VERY IMPORTANT for a LONG time when it happens. Field Day is a good way to prep for aftermath. (Gear can go into metal containers to escape parts damage until afterward.) Portable generators (best without a lot of electronics on them) will be needed to re-charge the batteries!

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bobs_monkey@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
It’s worth noting that even though a building might have solar, the systems usually disable themselves in the event of a blackout to prevent back feeding into the grid.

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- shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That’s known as a grid tie system and my edit mentions that. The only way it’s going to help is if the grid is physically disconnected from the building as in the wire is not connected to the building at any point.
  
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  - curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Unless I’m missing something here, thats what an LVD should do, and anyone grid-connected with solar should have.
    
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    shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    During a normal power outage, you’re right. That does keep you isolated on your own island. But in a case like this, the voltage is likely to spike to incredibly high levels on wires that aren’t meant to carry it and cause arcing and possibly fires. That’s why you want to be physically disconnected.
    
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- roofuskit@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That wouldn’t be an off grid building then.
  
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