Carry Case Testing
About 5 years ago I had a need to carry 4 radio scanners with me at times, after some looking around on the Internet I became aware of Pelican cases and not long after this I purchased the 1500 model case, this lasted me a couple of years until I cut back my radio collection and didn't need something as large any more. Over the years I have had a few different model Pelican cases, most were for my photography hobby where the cost can be justified when you have equipment worth $4000+ in it, for less expensive equipment the cost is harder to justify.
About two years ago I noticed Bunnings were starting to stock Kingcrome cases which were much the same as the Pelican branded ones but at a much easier to justify price, I purchased two of the large models to store my camera gear in and a medium size case for my radios, from the use these got they seemed to work well but I was never sure if they were as strong as the Pelican brand cases and how water / weather proof they were. When I sold off my photography gear I also sold the two large cases with it.
Just before Christmas last year I found a Pelican 1030 micro case going very cheap which was the perfect size for my UBC93XLT scanner plus spare batteries and headphones so I purchased it, after a few weeks use I found it was just that little bit too small so since then I have been searching for something like it but a little bit larger (the next model up in the Pelican range is too large for my needs)
On my last trip down to Hobart I was able to find an outdoor camping store that stocked a range of hard carry cases made by elemental which are much the same as Pelican cases but at a much lower price. Over the weekend I also found that Jaycar now stock a range of small cases made by DURATECH which they claim are waterproof and come with a 2 year guarantee of this.
Today I have decided to undertake some testing of each of these case to test the physical strength / drop testing and how water proof they really are.
Cases under test
Pelican 1030 micro case:
This case is made by Pelican and is rated as “water resistant” by them. The cost for this was $44.95.
Elemental 4500 Yellow:
This is a small yellow case and is not rated so I was not sure how strong / weather proof this is, cost was $35.95.
DURATECH:
This case does not seem to have a model number but was the second largest of the micro case range stocked by Jaycar. It is rated as “water proof”. Cost was $22.95.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium:
This case was purchased from Bunnings and is rated as “water resistant”. This is a much larger case then those above and could easily hold 2 or 3 radios. Cost was $64.95.
Test 1 - Physical Strength:
For this test I placed each case on the ground (hard gravel) and stepped on it with all my weight to test the strength, all cases passed with only the Pelican 1030 showing any sign of stress.
Test 2 - Drop Test:
This test had me drop each case from a height of about 2.5m on to the hard gravel below, each case was dropped three times with the weight down which is how they would fall naturally.
Below are the photos of this test, first is of all the cases on the ground and then a photo of each case showing any damage.
Pelican 1030 – only minor physical scratching however the case did come open when it hit the ground which would have damaged anything inside it. Out of the three drops it came open twice. This was an unexpected and not encouraging result given Pelican cases are sold as being very strong and secure.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – Some quite deep marks, seems to be quite a soft plastic. Case stayed closed for all test.
DURATECH – Minor scratching only. Case stayed closed for all tests.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – A small mark only, no damage and case stayed closed for all tests.
Test 3 – Water test:
This test was for me to place each case in a large plastic crate and pour a bucket of water over it to test it's resistance to water hitting it, all cases passed this and didn't allow any water in. Next I returned each case to the large crate of water and weighted each of them under the water for a 3 minute period to test how water proof they would be if they sank in to water. After removing each case from the water the outside was dried to ensure no water got in when they were opened.
Pelican 1030 – On opening this case quite a bit of water was found in the bottom of this case, it would not protect equipment if taken in to the water.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – This case had no water inside at all.
DURATECH – This case had no water inside at all.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – When this case was opened it had a little bit of water in the bottom, looking at the seals it was easy to see where this had come in.
Summery
Pelican 1030 – Did not handle drop test well and allowed water in when placed under water, would be suitable for land use only and opening when dropped is a concern.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – No issues with water ingress, soft plastic might not handle rough treatment well.
DURATECH – Preformed very well, seems strong and was totally water tight, very strong locking latches kept contents safe.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – Seems strong and is the best value due to its large size but is let down by amount of water it allowed in.
Overall these test showed that the expensive brand name case didn't preform as well as the cheaper units and that the ratings given by the case makers are true, those cases rated water proof were and those rated as water resistant are that to some extent.
Paul Blundell – March 2011
www.scanningtasmania.org
About 5 years ago I had a need to carry 4 radio scanners with me at times, after some looking around on the Internet I became aware of Pelican cases and not long after this I purchased the 1500 model case, this lasted me a couple of years until I cut back my radio collection and didn't need something as large any more. Over the years I have had a few different model Pelican cases, most were for my photography hobby where the cost can be justified when you have equipment worth $4000+ in it, for less expensive equipment the cost is harder to justify.
About two years ago I noticed Bunnings were starting to stock Kingcrome cases which were much the same as the Pelican branded ones but at a much easier to justify price, I purchased two of the large models to store my camera gear in and a medium size case for my radios, from the use these got they seemed to work well but I was never sure if they were as strong as the Pelican brand cases and how water / weather proof they were. When I sold off my photography gear I also sold the two large cases with it.
Just before Christmas last year I found a Pelican 1030 micro case going very cheap which was the perfect size for my UBC93XLT scanner plus spare batteries and headphones so I purchased it, after a few weeks use I found it was just that little bit too small so since then I have been searching for something like it but a little bit larger (the next model up in the Pelican range is too large for my needs)
On my last trip down to Hobart I was able to find an outdoor camping store that stocked a range of hard carry cases made by elemental which are much the same as Pelican cases but at a much lower price. Over the weekend I also found that Jaycar now stock a range of small cases made by DURATECH which they claim are waterproof and come with a 2 year guarantee of this.
Today I have decided to undertake some testing of each of these case to test the physical strength / drop testing and how water proof they really are.
Cases under test
Pelican 1030 micro case:
This case is made by Pelican and is rated as “water resistant” by them. The cost for this was $44.95.
Elemental 4500 Yellow:
This is a small yellow case and is not rated so I was not sure how strong / weather proof this is, cost was $35.95.
DURATECH:
This case does not seem to have a model number but was the second largest of the micro case range stocked by Jaycar. It is rated as “water proof”. Cost was $22.95.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium:
This case was purchased from Bunnings and is rated as “water resistant”. This is a much larger case then those above and could easily hold 2 or 3 radios. Cost was $64.95.
Test 1 - Physical Strength:
For this test I placed each case on the ground (hard gravel) and stepped on it with all my weight to test the strength, all cases passed with only the Pelican 1030 showing any sign of stress.
Test 2 - Drop Test:
This test had me drop each case from a height of about 2.5m on to the hard gravel below, each case was dropped three times with the weight down which is how they would fall naturally.
Below are the photos of this test, first is of all the cases on the ground and then a photo of each case showing any damage.
Pelican 1030 – only minor physical scratching however the case did come open when it hit the ground which would have damaged anything inside it. Out of the three drops it came open twice. This was an unexpected and not encouraging result given Pelican cases are sold as being very strong and secure.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – Some quite deep marks, seems to be quite a soft plastic. Case stayed closed for all test.
DURATECH – Minor scratching only. Case stayed closed for all tests.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – A small mark only, no damage and case stayed closed for all tests.
Test 3 – Water test:
This test was for me to place each case in a large plastic crate and pour a bucket of water over it to test it's resistance to water hitting it, all cases passed this and didn't allow any water in. Next I returned each case to the large crate of water and weighted each of them under the water for a 3 minute period to test how water proof they would be if they sank in to water. After removing each case from the water the outside was dried to ensure no water got in when they were opened.
Pelican 1030 – On opening this case quite a bit of water was found in the bottom of this case, it would not protect equipment if taken in to the water.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – This case had no water inside at all.
DURATECH – This case had no water inside at all.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – When this case was opened it had a little bit of water in the bottom, looking at the seals it was easy to see where this had come in.
Summery
Pelican 1030 – Did not handle drop test well and allowed water in when placed under water, would be suitable for land use only and opening when dropped is a concern.
Elemental 4500 Yellow – No issues with water ingress, soft plastic might not handle rough treatment well.
DURATECH – Preformed very well, seems strong and was totally water tight, very strong locking latches kept contents safe.
Kingcrome Yellow Medium – Seems strong and is the best value due to its large size but is let down by amount of water it allowed in.
Overall these test showed that the expensive brand name case didn't preform as well as the cheaper units and that the ratings given by the case makers are true, those cases rated water proof were and those rated as water resistant are that to some extent.
Paul Blundell – March 2011
www.scanningtasmania.org
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