I’m kind of curious what the power companies are going to do with less than 30 minutes warning?Pull switches and unload some boilers begin to start peakers (peaker plants) for starters ..
They already have plans that are put in effect when geomagnetic storms begin to rage due to a very similar effect (when induced currents begin to flow in the high voltage transmission lines on so-called 'tie lines' between large generation and load-centers that comprise "the grid".)
The plan (Training material for system operator) pdf format
Not to mention almost every vehicle’s computer fried, every domestic and commercial gizmo fried, etc.NOW you're buying into the hype. Do you WANT to panic and fret about something QUITE remote and OVERBLOWN (testing of consumer/commercial equipment doesn't reveal NEAR the susceptability some would have you believe)?
1)
High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) ...
Threat Assessments
Updated July 21, 2008
Excerpt:
The effects of HEMP became fully known to the United States in 1962 during a high-altitude nuclear test (code named “Starfish Prime”) over the Pacific Ocean, when radio stations and electronic equipment were disrupted 800 miles away throughout parts of Hawaii.and this entry on Wicked-pedia entry:
2)
Starfish Prime :
About 1445 kilometers (897 statute miles) away in Hawaii, the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) created by the explosion was felt as three hundred street lights failed,Here is a paper presenting an analysis of the Street lights that 'failed' that day. Turns out, they were series-strings of lights in an unusual topology not seen in much use today (near as I can determine):
Did High-Altitude EMP Cause the Hawaiian Streetlight Incident?
Sandia National Laboratories.
June 1989
by Charles N. Vittitoe
“NOW you’re buying into the hype.”
Okay, I was operating under the assumption that what was in the book was realistic. I’m not a power guy or any kind of engineer, so I don’t know if the danger is overblown or what. But if there is the possibility that a power spike could come down the line and jump standard surge protectors then things could get...interesting.