storage case: ideas needed!

when I first got my toughbook I though "oh wow no need for a travel case, its tough and got its own handle".

Then I realized I needed an easy orginization and carry case for all the accessories, so I need a case.

I got an old de-walt screwdriver case I am thinking about converting( so far ripping off the inside molding has been a pain, and I gotta fix some small holds made in the case), but I want some more options.

I need a rugged outdoorsman type case that will hold:
* the AC adapter
*the second battery/cd-rom(for quick and easy swaps in the field),
*PCMCIA cards (such as GPRS/GSM Cell modems, card readers, etc..)
*a flash memory stick( personal recommendation: the Corsair Flash Survivor)
* and most important, a CF-29 toughbook when not in use.

This so it all can be easily grabbed when SHTF, or just don't have to fumble to bring everything with me.

 

I personally use Pelican cases for anything really valuable or fragile. Toughbook (user name) has another brand that I can't recall the name of. His case did have a lower purchase price than the Pelican as I recall.

 

Pelican Cases:

http://www.pelican.com/

and the one Toughbook was talking about was the STORM cases:

http://www.stormcase.com/Index.htm

personally have used the Platt cases in the past for tools....

http://www.customcases.com/platt/

there are more but thats the top 3 I can think of. I don't think you could go wrong with one from any of those manufacturers....considering who uses them and who they supply

Pelican cases are real good for "Wet" environments!

For smaller items...there is OTTERBOX:

http://www.otterbox.com/

and I am sure there are more....

Now all that being said I LOVE your idea of modifying a drill case for a TOUGHBOOK. It's a laptop case in disguise! Perhaps less prone to THEFT!

 

Right now someone is selling a IM2400 HardDigg Pelican style case for $64 which has the foam cut for a CF-28-29. I just got one myself, but it wont be in for a couple days but its brand new in box.

I would Really suggest getting a case like that or a pelican as you never know when you need to protect it. BTW not that you are doing this for this reason but there is a GOOD chance the CF-28/29 is NOT EMP proof, lining the inside of a pelican case with Foil and then using the foam to insulate the notebook would provide enough protection from EMP blast.

With all the talk of an EMP bomb 200 miles above Kansas knocking out alot of our electronics you can never be too safe. lol

 

I think that Hardigg is the name of the case that Toughbook had. Maybe he can give a review.

 

The Hardigg case is awesome. I bought from thee same seller lt1956 did most probably... Excellent fit & finish. Fits the 29 perfectly and the 28 almost as well. The latches are very nice and can't be opened accidentally. It has the Vortex vent to equalize air pressure on the inside.

All around great case.... I also won the bid for another onee... by accident... Ibid $49 and won! It's olive drab...

I would think that if 2mm of magnesium doesn't stop EMP... Tin foil won't do it either... Unless you were talking about a thicker copper or lead foil.

 

One problem with the CF-29 is the antenna it allows the current to get INSIDE the device. Hence why I am not so sure of its shielding. Plus Keyboard connections on Non Rubber models.

I'm sure it probably is, but why take the chance if its in storage while not in use? Foil does work all you are doing is deverting the pulse from the internal electronics. You are right if ANY laptop is EMP proof it would be CF-29, AND getac Models.

But still the Milspec compliance does not state on EMP. ;-0

Still though cases are good for other electronics one may have for arainy day and want protected, like you said you cant beat the price right now his cases only 2 left are selling for $64 which is still better than a pelican price. Just remember on electronics if you are storing and want it EMP use Foil inside the Case and the insert the Foam as an insulator.

Lt

 

Ummm... Lt - Have you ever actually done any fabrication on MilSpec EMP shielding? I'm afraid it's a bit more significant than just wrapping a device in ANY kind of foil. Proper, functional EMP shielding consists of layers of steel & copper or lead sheet, arranged to essentially wrap any magnetic pulse it may encounter in a bubble so that it self-cancels. You will NOT easily make any such thing portable. Now you CAN make a serviceable FARADAY CAGE from fine wire mesh or nearly any conductive foil as long as you ground it sufficiently; this will prevent radio waves from getting to your device, but grounding it makes it not very portable and who cares as long as it's turned off?

mnem
*Woops there goes another EMPed helicopter...*

 

I never thought about the threat from EMP, I know its released when an atomic bomb goes off, but I thought devices that EMP type weapons where more sci-fi than anything....

So educate me some, whats the threat of someone using EMP type weapons on a modern battlefield?? Do theese devices exist, are they deployed? Are they easy to make, rare, range and extend of damage?

Also, in the chance of an encounter what countermeasures does one take?

 

Mnementh, As you know most of the portable supposed EMP proof equipment doesnt use the methods you described (PRC series of radios, etc). I do agree that is the official and most effective protection but not possible on a Portable means.

As for Grounding that isnt needed as I understand it, Vehicles are not grounded do to the Tires and yet there is a GOOD possibility that Older vehicles wouldnt be that effected by an EMP blast.

I was speaking a FARADAY CAGE with the Foil, same as the shielding used on Coax Cable and other Communications to limit interference.

As for a unit being off, who knows with modern electronics the Last EMP tests were done in the eighties, With all the advances who knows how sensitive our stuff is?

After all most of this is theory as we havent had some real serious tests done in years, I do say what does it hurt to Line your pelican case with Foil? As you say if the unit is off that should be fine, but why take a chance?

Iowang, Alot of the questions you are asking are classified, any serious military research on this subject would NOT be available to the public, But Scientist can have theories on how to make such a device, Basically a simple
small verison of one is Copper wire spun in a tube shape and explode a shaped charge through it. there is of course a little more than that, but its not really important to know those type of details.

Its also possible that an EMP blast may not effect our systems as much as people think, there is an extreme on everything being fried including cars to systems rebooting like a power outage. Basically NO ONE truly knows for sure, the test done back then were using equipment like in back to the future3 when he made a part using 1950's technology. lol

Mnementh could probably tell you more as he seems well rounded in this subject and possibly worked in shielding aviation equipment?

 

I worked for a while at a company in NY where my first project straight out of electronics tech school was designing & later QC on a series of switch-mode power supplies used to upgrade radar consoles used for air traffic control. Yes, these were EMP shielded; no, there really was little conjecture. The chassis were designed based on existing designs from the power supply they replaced, then tested for magnetic leakage by passage through a MRI scanner. To my knowledge, the PRC series radios are NOT rated for exposure while powered on; thus are not what we considered "EMP hardened".

If you're interested in everyday examples of this technology, just take apart a pair of magnetically shielded computer speakers & compare them to their non-shielded counterparts. You'll quickly understand why I said this was not a simple project.

As for the foil; well, lining an insulator (big plastic box) with an ungrounded conductive sheet creates a great big capacitor, with very high voltage potential, and your Toughbook right in the middle of it. Now pass this through say... a powerful Magnetron, like used in an military RADAR... you have the possibility of creating some pretty high voltage/high frequency induced voltages inside the case, & therefore inside your TB.

So no... I don't believe it's a good idea to wrap your ToughBook in what is essentially a great big antenna for any stray EMF that might be out there.

mnem
RF burns are the worst.

 

Interesting Point you did make was the magnetic Radiation being tested with an MRI, My understanding is Panasonic does something similar with testing Leakage, so this COULD possible indicate an attempt for EMP testing but By what you described and I will tilt my hat to your expertise is that the only way to shield while on is the method you described earlier.

Well let’s hope that the EMP danger is overrated and all this remains academic. ;-)

For now I would suggest anyone monitoring this thread to take Mnementh's advice and not use the Foil, He made a good point on the capacitor correlation. Seems I was instructed incorrectly, but then that is common nowadays.

Cheers

 

All's I know is that the Toughbook used on 'Jericho' still worked after the nukes went off.

 

What about this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ADP-Laptop-Case...ryZ38284QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Sorry forgot this one too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hardigg-Sto...ryZ38284QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I like the hardigg cases; I had my overseas gear kitted out with hardigg boxes for my meters & scopes... very nearly "Kicked out the back of the truck at 100 KPH" - proof, PLUS they float AND waterproof if you don't break integrity your own damn fool self. The downside is cost; my company had thousands invested in the kit they bought for me - they also demanded it back when I got laid off, even though most of the test equipment was mine or almost completely paid off.

mnem
"We must find a larger rock."

 

perfect. All I need now is GPS, and I have everything I set out to do

edit: I guess I should post about it when its all together

edit: PRC series radios, seriously, who still uses those antiques???