EVERYDAY FARADAY

An Overview of Faraday Bags to Shield Your Sensitive Electronics

- 

English scientist Michael Faraday's instrumental work with electricity in the early 1800s led to discoveries in creating the first electrical generator, rubber balloons, and of course the Faraday cage. Early in his research career, he worked for Sir Humphry Davy, the chemist responsible for using electrolysis to isolate many elements for the first time. These were the pioneers of research into metals, chemistry, and electricity. Albert Einstein was even said to have kept a portrait of Faraday on the wall of his study - such was his importance within his field.

Out of necessity, since scientists were known for injuring and killing themselves during experiments in this era, the first Faraday cage was constructed 1836 to keep Michael safe. In this "test lab," he proved there was no electrical charge present when voltage was discharged to strike the outside of the cage.

Today, Faraday's experiment has shaped how we keep ourselves protected from harmful microwaves while reheating our favorite frozen meal or cup of noodles.

Can your microwave act as a Faraday cage or protect items from an EMP attack? No, not really. Microwaves are designed to keep non-ionizing radio waves that heat your food inside and prevent that radiation from leaking out.

The Basics of Faraday Bags

Faraday cages can block various types of signals from communicating with electronic devices. RFID, FM radio, GPS, cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi – each has its own vulnerabilities, and the protection from threats can range from hacking to EMP attacks. Faraday bags offer the same benefits of rigid cages, but in a slimmer and more flexible format.