What is a Faraday Cage
A faraday cage is an enclosure formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material. A Faraday cage operates because an external electrical field causes the electric charges within the cage’s conducting material to be distributed such that they cancel the field’s effect in the cage’s interior. This phenomenon is used to protect sensitive electronic equipment from external radio frequency interference (RFI). Faraday cages are named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836.
Faraday cages have been used for many years in electrical engineering and science as a convenient method of dealing with unwanted electrostatic effects. In the late 18th century, Benjamin Franklin identified that certain materials could block or conduct electricity. He discovered that when a conductor was touched by lightning, it would not be harmed because the current would flow through it.
Michael Faraday then discovered that certain materials could conduct electricity and so prevent any charge buildup within the structure itself. These discoveries led to the invention of the Faraday cage, which is designed to protect its contents from external electric fields as well as electromagnetic fields like radio frequencies and microwaves.
Will a Faraday Cage Protect Against an EMP or a Solar Flare?
Solar Flares
Solar flares are large explosions in the sun’s atmosphere that can affect satellites, communications and power systems on Earth. Long story short, it sends out an electromagnetic pulse that shuts down electronics, but a faraday device is able to protect your device. For more information on solar flares, check out our article on how to prepare for a solar flare disaster.
EMPs
An EMP is an electro-magnetic pulse that can wipe out the electricity in your house and destroy any electronics. It’s like a huge solar flare, but man-made.
What to Put in a Simple Faraday Cage
The basic answer here is- anything you want to have protected in the case of an emergency. We like to keep at the minimum some radio communication equipment in a faraday cage. Other good things to consider putting into a faraday cage would be a generator, electronic life saving or medical equipment, such as blood sugar meters, or oxygen machines, flashlights, a computer, etc. Beyond that, you can really put anything you’d want into a faraday cage, as long as its big enough. Some people have a spare TV, vehicles, air conditioners, and other comfort items. It really depends on you and your needs and priorities.
Small and Simple Faraday Cage
Faraday Cage for a Cell Phone
The Mission Darkness Molle Waterproof Faraday Pouch is our favorite small option from our Waterproof Faraday Cage Bag List. Mission Darkness produces some high quality gear. We’re really impressed and pleased with their Molle waterproof faraday pouch. This pouch is extremely versatile and well built. The Molle system makes it really nice for being able to strap onto a bug out bag, or any other backpack in case you need to get out of dodge. It probably has the best Amazon reviews of any option on this list. This is our go to bag for small electronic protection.
Mission Darkness Molle Waterproof Faraday Pouch
We also have smaller or larger, and more discreet options you can check out in out in our article on Faraday Bags for Phones.
A less expensive option is the Faraday Defense multibag kit. These bags are advertised as being military grade. What we really like about them though is the ability to nest one inside the other, that way you have a few layers of defense against a solar flare. Or you can have multiple bags to store multiple devices.
Faraday Defense 15pc Faraday Bag Kit
Medium Faraday Cage
Faraday Cage
Faraday cage is kind of a generic term for most people. Most of the Faraday options I’ve mentioned, bags, backpacks, etc. are all faraday cages. Many people think of the faraday cage as being more of a box though. We like the Ticonn Faraday box, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s probably the most popular faraday option on Amazon, and has really great reviews.
TICONN Faraday Box
A Faraday Backpack will be able to hold multiple electronics, and even larger iPad, like the iPad Pro. We’re a big fan of the Barrier Bag. It’s a water resistant faraday backpack that was built with the idea of being a backpack and a faraday bag. That might sound obvious, but what I mean is that there are many “backpacks” that just have a couple of straps sewed onto a cheap bag. The Barrier Bag is a well made good backpack, that also is a faraday bag.
Barrier Bag 20 Liter Faraday Backpack
Large Faraday Cage
Our go to large option is the Mission Darkness EMP Shield. This bad boy is designed for your generator, or other extra large electronics. It provides just under 10 cubic feet of faraday cage protection, and is military grade. It does run on the pricier end of things, but if you want the best, this is it.
Mission Darkness EMP Shield for Large Electronics or Generators
Simple DIY Faraday Cage
Not all of the above options will work for everyone, and most people will need or want multiple faraday cage options to protect their equipment. If you want to try to make your own custom solution, I would recommend checking out faraday fabric. It’s designed with the DIYer in mind, and is a good and forgiving material that’s easy to work with. The link below goes to our favorite brand, but there are a host of other options on amazon, if this is the solution you’re looking for.
Faraday Fabric
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