Thermocouple Power Generation

One of my biggest concerns about relying on photovoltaic panels as backup power is that the Big Dog of backup power needs involves EMP, which fries electronics real well.  I have found conflicting statements about how vulnerable PV panels are to EMP.  Of course, even if the panels survive, the inverter is not likely to survive.  

I am reading Stern and Grinspoon's Chaoosing New Horizons about the mission to Pluto.  Because I worked on Voyager, I was already familiar with the use of radio isotope thermal generators (PV is a lost cause that far out).  RTGs use radioactive materials to heat a thermocouple producing electricity. 

Thermocouple aren't terribly effective sources of DC current.  They have two advantages:

1. They are not at risk of EMP destruction of chips.

2. They are utterly simple to make.  Two dissimilar metals joined together.  Apply heat at the junction: DC power output.  You still need an inverter but you keep that in a Faraday cage until needed.

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The output voltage is tiny.  You couple thzijc em together in series to produce a thermopile, analogous to multiple cells summing to a battery.

I have a temptation to use my scrap copper and zinc for experiment.