Quote Originally Posted by jerrymrc View Post
Now that is funny. I do have to say that on post it only seemed to affect the cars with plates from LA, NY, TX and AK.

Some things on EMP IMO. Cars and light trucks were affected by OBDII in 96. One glaring omission are the 96-98.5 dodge 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. You may lose your dash and whatnot's but with a manual they will run without batteries with a fuel bypass on the stop/run solenoid.

On a GM many up through 80-82 were still all mechanical except for the module in the HEI. It is still not known how big an EMP would have to be to take these out since they are pretty robust compared to what many "experts" talk about an EMP strike taking out. I think that many IC's would fair just fine.

The more modern microcircuits and there related components will have an issue. The typical 60's-70's transistor radio may be just fine but once you start adding the components that are actually CPU's then all bets are off. What I am trying to say is that just because it has a black chip on the board does not mean that an EMP strike will take it out.

A diode is nothing more than a one way valve and as large as the ones in an alternator are It is unlikely to be killed in a strike. As we have progressed our electronics
Have got smaller. with the miniaturization came a decrease in current. The smaller you make it the less current a given circuit is able to handle. EMP is all about current (amps) to overload a given circuit and kill it.

The Russians used tubes to negate this problem in there aircraft. Many of the early semiconductors had the same current capability of tubes and circuits were of the tube "topology" in there design and application.

Many other things go into a vulnerability from EMP. In final thoughts. Is EMP real? yes. Do we know what will or will not be compromised in an EMP strike? no. will everything that plugs into the wall be destroyed? no. Will things that are computerized be the first to go? IMO, yes.

Just some thoughts.

Diodes are more fragile than I would have thought based on experience. happened this week actually. Had a 2004 Peterbilt that the fan would only work on high so that means that the resistor block is junk usually. He just had this replaced a week ago. on Paccar trucks up to 2008 the resistor block to control fan speed is simply coiled wires of varying diameter to reduce current thru heat thus it reduces speed. they halso have a beefy diode that is rated to 20 amps. turns out the blower fan was slightly out of balance and the brand new motor was drawing to much amperage from the block on the speed controlled setting and fried the diode. threw a new block and squirrel cage in it and am hoping for the best.