How to Make a Faraday Cage Box

A Faraday cage is an enclosed space that blocks out external electric fields. Named for Michael Faraday, the English scientist who invented them in 1836, Faraday cages are used to protect electronic equipment from lightning and similarly strong electromagnetic fields. Faraday cages do not protect their contents from the Earth's magnetic field or static electricity, and cannot necessarily protect against powerful electromagnetic pulses. A Faraday cage must be made from conductive material and be properly grounded in order to function.

Things You'll Need

• Copper or brass mesh sheets
• 12 pieces of 2-by-4 lumber
• Nails
• Hammer
• Staple gun or industrial stapler
• Small piece of copper wire
• Soldering iron

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Instructions

1. Instructions

   • 1

     Build a box frame out of the 2-by-4 pieces of lumber using the hammer and nails.

   • 2

     Attach the mesh sheets to the box by stapling it to the wooden frame. Cut out an opening in one side of the mesh to serve as a door. Reattach the mesh so it is hinged and can swing back and forth.

   • 3

     Solder the copper wire to one corner of the mesh to serve as the grounding wire.