They said it would peak 2012-2013. I guess for the bigger countries with distribution grids via overhead powerlines this would really be an issue. For us all our lines are underground and most parts it is really really deep down. :) But I guess if really a "Storm of the Century" hits, we'd not be spared also.
First thing; "In 1989, a solar storm took down the power grid in Quebec, Canada, leaving about six million people without power for several hours." Several hours? That's not bad. Several days? That's a problem.
Second thing: "The 1859 solar storm hit telegraph offices around the world and caused a giant aurora visible as far south as the Caribbean Islands." HOLY HELL THAT'S POWERFUL!
I need to get more 18650s.
I made a small correction :D
200 18650 batteries?
wow!
on a separate note, I was watching the movie "2012" last night on TV. Solar flares now scare me.
Good thing my Spark SL6 is EMI/RFI shielded, right?
I guess I should invest in a solar 18650 charger.
Errrmmmm..........I wonder if we should all put a few of our lights, chargers and protected cells in a Faraday cage just in case......
I bet you go over 1C with it during a good solarstorm :P
Okay then, a solar charger and some IMR 18650s.
Hell, I will just buy a lighter and a hand saw.
Not a good idea. You'll just get addicted and look for bigger and bigger branches to burn that give out more and more lumens..............
Is there a solar charger for 18650 batteries? That could be very handy.
I have been looking at some solar chargers that come with a set of panels and a charge controller for a 12 volt lead acid battery and just have it charge my 12 volt SLA emergency backup pack I keep in my storage room. I can use the 12 volt input on my 4Sevens charger to charge 18650s from that pack. I also have an inverter to power things that I may need (mostly internet, haha) when the power is out.
I suppose I could just get an inverter and run it off my car battery, maybe get a solar-charger for the car battery as well.
When will be the "perfect solar storm" It is better not to light our flashlights but only kerosene/oil lamps and candles; the only flashlight I know who can work in the EPM environment Novatac HDS RA, the other, even if turned off, fail .
My flashlights are contained in a triple Faraday cage, I call the "Matryoshka-style". Also keeps in the Faraday box the batteries and chargers, etc-etc.
For daily use some metal cabinet for easy opening and closing.
I keep "free" flashlights in the house only a few what I call "the expendable"
All Microwave Ovens are Faraday cages, so don't throw out your old ones folks. Keep then in the cellar, loft or garage and store a light cache in them just in case.
My understanding of the faraday cage on the door of the microwave is it works by absorbing the microwave energy from the magnetron because the holes in the cage are the same height as the wave. Would the energy from the sun be in the form of a wave?
I think the user above that uses solid metal cases to shield his electronics has the right idea aside from the fact that the entire case should be connected together. The lids on his containers have a coating to make them food safe but this acts as an insulator and could theoretically cause problems in an EMI storm.
Yes, the energy from the sun would be in the form of a wave because that is the nature of an EMP. However, I'm not sure how an EMP actually damages electronic components. So, I'm not sure is a general mesh is sufficient. I suspect it is.
But, wouldn't it have to be at a fixed frequency for a microwave door faraday cage to block out the energy?
EM radiation can damage electronics via induction. A Faraday cage with sufficiently small mesh should mitigate damage though. A microwave oven is basically a Faraday cage with a magnetron and a waveguide, so store your sensitive stuff in there if you are worried (and don’t turn it on 
).
EDIT: and make sure that it is unplugged as the EMR can mess with the timer.
I live in a concrete apartment in the tropics, and if the EMI/EMP is strong enough to penetrate and spoil the drivers in the aluminum flashlights far down here, we'd have much bigger things to worry about. It won't be that strong, no worries. It will affect GPS (sea/air navigation), power, satellite communications though. And over here, all our transformers are "sheltered" and "further well reinforced in bunkers" powerlines are really deep underground.