Even military experts warn: 90% of DIY Faraday cages fail because of these common mistakes.
When the power goes out — not just your lights, but everything, permanently — you’ll wish you had built a proper Faraday cage. And let me tell you, a lot of people are doing it wrong. Very wrong.
There’s a lot of junk out there that doesn’t even apply to Faraday cages and electronics.
So, I’m going to break it down for you. Seven BIG mistakes people make — and how you can avoid them.
1. Not Fully Sealing the Cage
You leave a crack, a gap, a corner open — boom, you’re fried. EMPs don’t care if it’s almost closed. It’s got to be sealed all the way — airtight with metal-on-metal contact. You wouldn’t leave your safe open an inch, right? Same thing goes for Faraday cages.
2. Using the Wrong Materials
Listen, cardboard and duct tape aren’t stopping an electromagnetic pulse. You need real metal — aluminum, steel, copper. A cheap metal trash can with a tight lid? Fantastic. A cardboard box wrapped in foil? Not going to cut it.
You need something trusted – not the cheap stuff you get from Amazon or websites that don’t even disclose what the shields are made from. A good example of this is this cloth. It was developed after years of extensive research by top U.S. scientists and it provides 98% military-grade protection against electromagnetic waves.
And don’t be fooled by slick ads and fancy packaging. Half of these so-called “EMP bags” online? They’re made in bulk overseas, no testing, no transparency — total junk. You deserve better. You need something that’s tested, trusted, and American-made. Take this cloth, for example. It’s not just any fabric — it was developed after years of research by top U.S. scientists. We’re talking military-grade shielding, blocking 98% of electromagnetic waves.
That’s what our armed forces use. That’s what you want when the grid goes down.
And here’s the best part: you can build a real Faraday cage with it — line a box, a bag, a bin — and actually protect your radios, phones, solar chargers, whatever you need to keep running when the lights go out. Here’s a compete, step-by-step guide that lays it all out for you.
3. Forgetting to Insulate the Inside
This one’s huge. You put your electronics directly on the metal? Say goodbye. It shorts out. You need non-conductive insulation inside the cage like foam, cardboard or rubber. Something to keep your devices from touching the metal walls.
4. Leaving the Power On
People put phones, radios, even laptops inside and leave their batteries connected. Big mistake. When the EMP hits, they’re toast. You need to disconnect batteries and make sure there’s zero current running.
5. Thinking a Microwave Is Enough
No. Just no. That’s a very common and dangerous misconception… It’s no Faraday cage. Most have holes, leaky seals, and are built to contain radiation, not block it. Don’t trust your life to your popcorn machine.
6. Storing the Cage on a Metal Surface
Here’s something I’ve not seen people talk about much — grounding. If your Faraday cage is sitting on another metal surface, you’ve created a circuit. That can pull current inside during an EMP. You need to elevate your device, insulate it and keep it isolated.
7. Not Testing It First
If you can believe it, a lot of people don’t test theirs first. They think that if they’ve bought it, that’s enough. But please, don’t be like those people. Wrap your phone, put it in the cage, then call it. If it rings, you’ve got a problem. Test everything now, not after the grid’s already gone.
While most people are racing to build Faraday cages and stockpile electronics, there’s one group that’s been quietly thriving without any of it — the Amish. No dependency on power. No fear of blackouts. No panic when the lights go out.
Here you can see how the Amish build the fridge that doesn’t require electricity, the Amish survival hacks that can help you thrive in a long-term blackout, why you should never store water in a blue barrel, what the Amish would never store in their pantry, but most Americans do, and many other things that can make your life not only simple, but crisis-proof.
One last thing
For you to completely protect your family and belongings when the EMP hits, you need the kind of hands-on knowledge only made available by someone who’s actually been in the field. Someone who’s worked in hostile territory, with real lives on the line.
The Bug-In Guide is written by former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert — a man who’s seen what happens when communications fail, and who knows exactly how to keep vital gear protected, operational, and mission-ready in the most brutal conditions. In this book, Joel shows you exactly what you actually need to do — step-by-step — to shield your gear from EMPs, power grid failures, solar flares, and chaos-driven looters. This isn’t the time for guesswork. Your family, your safety, and your survival depend on getting this right.
Here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll learn inside this mission-critical guide:
- The little-known military trick for grounding your gear and bleeding off excess charge before it cooks your circuits.
- What to do in the first 10 seconds after the power goes out
- The common household item that can fry your Faraday cage if you don’t remove it.
- Where to store your protected gear in your home to avoid accidental discharge or damage.
- What 3 devices you MUST shield first if you want to survive long-term — and they’re not what most people think.
- Ingenious Ways to Outfox FEMA After SHTF
- The Homemade Device That Can Greatly Amplify Any Radio Signal
- How to Use a Car Battery to Power Up Your Radios
Plus many other things that your life will depend on one day.
This isn’t a mass-market manual like the cheap ones you find in libraries and online stores. Only a limited number of copies have been printed. Once they’re gone — that’s it. No reprints. No PDF knock-offs.
So, if you’re serious about protecting your electronics, your home, and your family…
I left you a link with Joel’s personal 68% OFF discount link here for you to grab your own physical copy of The Navy Seal’s Bug-In Guide before it disappears.
You’ve only got one shot to protect your belongings. You don’t want to wake up in the dark with a busted cage and no way to communicate. You want to wake up knowing you’re ready. You need to be in control.
That’s how you win.
You may also like:
10 Faraday Cages You Can Make at Home
What To Do With All Your Food Once The Power Goes Out (Video)
Is A Microwave Oven A Faraday Cage?
What No One Told You About Faraday Cages
Howdy from high in the desert swamp,
My concern with the expense of blankets and protection is what will it matter if the grid is down and say 90% of people didn’t or failed at prevention? Waying the options that I may have done good but has anyone else? If everything is toasted I still am going to have to go hobo style. This is the dilemma.
That’s a valid concern and one many preppers wrestle with. If an EMP or major grid-down event hits and most people are unprepared, it will create chaos, and even with your gear protected, survival won’t be easy. But here’s the key: having functioning equipment gives you options, for communication, power, information, and even barter, when most others are in the dark, literally and figuratively.
Think of Faraday protection like insurance. It might not fix the world, but it puts you one major step ahead, giving you tools to adapt, help others, or rebuild in small ways. Yes, the big picture might be bleak, but in survival, small advantages matter a lot, especially early on. You won’t fix society alone, but you might avoid going completely “hobo style” if you’ve prepared wisely.
I am quite sure I look at things differently. I am deaf and have injuries that would make walking very difficult for me. If anyone wants to see what communications blackout is, put in ear plugs and earmuffs. Block as much sound as you can and go about your day. Under no circumstances can you remove them for 12 hours. Rush hour traffic. Getting kids ready to go. Your daily routine without sound or understanding what someone is saying to you. Feel the anxiety rising. DON’T touch those earplugs. Or just go to the grocery store and everyone is wearing a mask and angry, scared or both. This is why on here I have said learn sign language. Silent communication you can read with binoculars.
I appreciate this site very much. I don’t mean to sound difficult or contrary but that was my job. If you ever saw world war z? There is a 10th man obligation in Israel. That is a real position and one taken seriously. I type what I am thinking. If I have my phone to text but all the equipment it fried? Now what? Personally I believe the isolation from others may be a good thing until it calms down and things get sorted out and lines are drawn or some kind of restoration. This is just my thought for my area.
This is another reason why I say: Have your soul prepared.
SOME WILL PREP.
Imagine being the only one in your state with a working short wave, or even being 1 of a hundred with a working CB.
That makes you the News and COMMUNICATION man !
Imagine the fresh veggies you will trade for sending and delivering messages !
EVERYONE will want to know if Family survived, and more follow up news later.
Some will prep, read below.
your a good man Dan, and more prepped than me
How can solar panels and the connecting system be protected if it in use to provide your power when EMP hits: or is this an assumed “sacrifice”?
Perhaps a stockpile of components to re-establish the system should be considered.
It seems this test is destined not to work: “Wrap your phone, put it in the cage, then call it. If it rings, you’ve got a problem. Test everything now, not after the grid’s already gone.”
Remember the bit about removing batteries???
If your solar system is actively running during an EMP, it’s highly likely that the panels themselves will survive, they’re rugged and simple, but the inverters, charge controllers, and any connected electronics are very vulnerable and could be permanently damaged. That’s why many preppers treat the system as a potential sacrifice during an EMP, or they build backup systems: keeping spare inverters, controllers, and small solar setups stored safely in a Faraday cage so they can be redeployed afterward.
As for the test method using a phone, great catch! Calling a phone in a Faraday cage isn’t a reliable test, especially if the phone is off or has its battery removed (as it often should be for proper EMP testing). A better approach is to place a battery-powered radio or wireless device inside, turn it on, and see if any signal (Wi-Fi, radio, or cellular) gets through. This tests for RF isolation, which is what a Faraday cage should provide. Planning and testing now, before an actual event, is key.
How would one seal and ground a shipping container for use as a Faraday Cage; inside and out?
A container could potentially provide secure storage of everything necessary for re-establishing a small home.
A shipping container can make an excellent large-scale Faraday cage, but to do it right, you’ll need to address a few key points—sealing, grounding, and internal isolation.
First, ensure electrical continuity across the entire metal shell. Shipping containers often have rubber gaskets or paint at the doors that interrupt conductivity. Use metal mesh or conductive gasket material around the doors to create a solid electrical seal when closed. All seams, vents, and cable entry points must be fully shielded or blocked with metal plates or conductive tape to prevent RF leakage.
As for grounding—this is a common misconception. Grounding isn’t required for a Faraday cage to protect against EMP, since its primary function is shielding, not draining energy. However, if the container is grounded, make sure it’s done properly to avoid creating a ground loop or introducing risk from nearby lightning strikes.
Inside the container, don’t store electronics in direct contact with the metal walls. Instead, place them in non-conductive containers (like plastic bins or wooden shelves), and ideally wrap sensitive gear in smaller Faraday bags or nested cages for added protection.
With the right sealing and internal setup, a shipping container can absolutely serve as a robust EMP shield for tools, radios, backup power systems, and anything else needed to rebuild after a grid-down event.
The government has done research many years ago about this subject and found the best, easiest and most cost-effective way of protecting critical items from electronics to motorcycles etc. was to store them in something that would absorb the EMP strike but also burying it below ground at least 6ft from the top of the storage container and the deeper it is buried the better the protection is = 100% survivable of the contents at around 10 ft dept or more.
This also protected the contents from damage by the concussion wave, heat wave etc. I don’t remember the exact specifics, but it was sponsored by the air force and conducted by a major ca university.
i would use the same guidelines for a shipping container, but figure out a way of accessing it easily instead of having to dig it up.
make sure to take into consideration the metal strips on the floor of the shipping container. i place my generator on wood inside the container to make sure its not touching the strips. i’m glad to see the prepper staff getting more involved in the comment section. keep up the good work.
I am really concerned about the future and unfortunately am in a position of “Nothing”! I lost my home during the pandemic almost 4 years ago now and am literally going to be starting from scratch. Money is a major concern as well but all I want to do is protect my disabled daughter and grand daughter from the carnage when it happens. I am 53 and I am scared for them. I need as much knowledge as I can get and I appreciate you helping people gain knowledge on how to protect themselves and their families. Quick question though, you wouldn’t happen to know of anyone with lots of land that may consider renting a spot to someone like us? Or an off grid community near Florida, GA or North or south Carolina? I’d obviously buy a shed or rv to live in and I’d be more than willing to what I can physically but I am truly scared for them. My daughter cannot protect them physically and neither can I at this point and we don’t own any guns yet and she would definetely need guidance. I am worried I won’t be around to help them for too long and we really have no one to count on. Idk, just thought I would at least ask. She obviously collects a disability check and could pay rent until shtf and she’s a pretty good cook. She could learn gardening, sewing, all kinds of things as long as they aren’t too physical. She has extremely mild cerebral palsy ( we were very blessed as she only has a slight limp and the fine motor skills issues). You really wouldn’t know anything was wrong with her if you met her but after a bit you’d noticed that she does seem a lil less mature than her age. Anyway I didn’t mean to ramble but honestly, this is all I think about all the time. I know that’s its inevitable and I just want to find somewhere safe for them. So I took the chance to ask. I dont even know if I’ll have the money to buy this book yet but I figured if I had the opportunity to write a message I might as well put it all out there. Oh and I was rehabbed Wildlife for over 30 years, own a feed store for a while, was a manager at Petsmart and was a vet tech for most of my life. Animals are my thing. And I could be really helpful! If you have any interest in answering my questions please contact me on my daughter makailas phone 9046900861. Thanks so much in advance Dawn
Hi Dawn….If you have no debt…you are better off than most people….eating weeds and living in your car might be fun….stop all vise ‘s drinking…smoking…ect….thank God for any food before you eat….stay aware of anything that could improve your situation…can your parents put you up ..untill you get on your feet….???..keep fighting Know matter what…good luck…Take care of your self…I’m sure there’s better advise out there…i can barely take care of myself. Some times life will give you more than you ask for….
Careful you don’t hook up with the Manson family…
Dawn,
You have fear. Understandable and your living reasons why is admirable. Do not give into fear. Let it give you inspiration. Fear is short lived. It gets to be a way of life. Knowing what it is and doing something about it is the way forward. I did this to myself about a year ago. A light hurricane came through and took out power to 10 counties. I got mad and didn’t do lesson one. Sit, shut up and assess. I didn’t. I got furious at the sorry no good greedy power company and drove to my cousins house 150 miles away. Just before I got there I realized what I had done. I left almost everything behind. Stupid of me. I did spend the night and drove back home the next morning. My suggestion is stop. Hush and assess. It may not actually be as bad as your adrenaline rush makes it out to be. Or it may be but since I have my calmness, assess who, where, what, why and when.
Who am I protecting? First has to be you. If you’re not in a good mindset you may be the problem.
Where am I going to take care of me(others)?
What will I use?
Why am I doing this?
When do I start?
Now, take your list and go. Mainly be honest with yourself. Am I truly the one that’s best to do this task? Only you can decide.
In all things have your soul prepared.
The most likely SHTF scenario for almost all of us is a personal health crisis and or personal financial disaster. In my experience it can take years to recover, but you can do it!
I read and read about the Faraday cage and no longer say you need a Faraday Cage to protect against EMP, you need an insulator which is why there can be no openings. A Faraday Cage is actually a cage, when exposed to a current the current runs around the outside of the cage and does not go inside, even through an opening. The E1 pulse is not an electrical charge so it goes through the openings in a Faraday cage and creates a current in any conductor inside.
Totally agree with you. most people are way more likely to face a health scare or financial mess than some huge disaster. Those can knock you down hard, and like you said, it takes time to bounce back, but it’s definitely possible.
As for the Faraday cage stuff, yeah, a lot of folks throw that term around without digging into the details. You’re right—the E1 pulse from an EMP isn’t a simple electric charge, and if a cage has gaps or isn’t properly insulated, that pulse can still fry your gear. A solid metal box with no openings and something non-conductive inside is way better for protection than just a mesh “cage.” It’s more about how you build it than what you call it.
Appreciate your take, it helps clear up a lot of the confusion out there.
Remember –
if you have a bad faraday cage, its better than NONE.
Chiefly, if your in Manhattan, 3 layers of cage might not be enough (prime target).
if your in the North bank of Alaska, a little protection will go a long way.
I remember a previous article, about cars I think, that said a little protection will go a long way if your a ways away from ground zero.