What can you do to harden your vehicle

[raburgeson]

Guys, the gov is going nuts over the possibility of a pulse. You all know how weak a modern day system is in an auto. What do you do to harden the vehicle. I have a couple nonresistor spark plugs. I was thinking I could set these at 1/4 thousands gap and place them in key areas in the electrical system to bleed off high energy. Do you think this would limit the amount of damage. My idea is to limit the amount of potential difference between the system and ground. Of course that small gap can easily be bridged and shorted. Cut off a child's balloon  and stretch the end over the plug to keep that from happening. Is this idea feasible?

[jadaro2600]

If that computer goes out, you'll be sitting there anyway.  I would worry about that instead.  The engine is similar to a faraday cage ... shield the battery, computer ...

Regardless, the vehicle isn't grounded, so any electrostatics will just build up on the frame.

[raburgeson]

Well, I thought it might be worth a try. What happens do you think. I think the body shields the electrical system by skin effect. But a powerful pulse has a magnetic component. The eddy currents could produce a high potential and current that could overwhelm the electrical system from the ground side. I could be wrong completely. What do you think would happen.

[TechStuf]

It's like the movie 2012.....You'll just finish 'hardening' your vehicle and then, as it falls into a giant fissure, it will be the only car running all the way down.....aghhhhhh......ghhhhhh.....

just kidding.

Get an old 70's car and install a battery cut off switch.  When not in use, keep the switch open and the frame grounded.

Oh, and line the roof and the hood with lead.


TS