Electromagnetic Pulse effect on Fly By Wire?

[hawk16e]

Two questions:

Do the electronic devices have to be powered at the time, or would all electronics be fried?

Would older cars (without computers) be imune/relatively safe - not that you could get much gas for them?

 

[JohnDoe]

Now you guys did it......

Another apocalyptic subject for Jetflyer to use and create 8-page threads with lots of bold and multi-colored text.




(Easy Jetflyer, it's a joke)

 

[ackattacker]

Two questions:

Do the electronic devices have to be powered at the time, or would all electronics be fried?

Would older cars (without computers) be imune/relatively safe - not that you could get much gas for them?

As a former electrical engineer... it depends. Likely to be fried if close to the pulse and badly shielded. Modern low-voltage integrated circuits likely to fair poorly... an electromagnetic pulse induces a current in all unshielded circuits, whether energized or not.

Older cars without computers should be fine. But we're talking early 80's. Everything else is computerized to some degree. My 1992 Mazda pickup is carburated but still features a computer to control the emissions systems. Probably wouldn't run without it. Anything with electronic fuel injection is most likely toast.

I fly a turboprop powered by PT121's. It would still fly on the mechanical HMU fuel supply and mechanical flight controls. Small consolation for my small paycheck...