Ruggard Electronic Dry Cabinet Review | 4K

[@gregoryforeman2105]

I just moved from California to Arkansas and found one on sale at B&H right after we moved. Just got it yesterday. I think it will be great for my gear and it is a nice addition to the office. I could not figure out how to turn on the light though, until I watched your review. Thanks for the review. Excellent like all of your others. Many of the lenses I now own are due to your reviews. I feel you are the most balanced reviewer on KZbin!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's great feedback.

[@IRGMY]

Great review as always! I have the 80L version and I love it. In Midwest US where I live it's not that humid, but it's really a neat way to organize / display your gear and keep them off dust.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's definitely a great fringe benefit.

[@Lucamitm]

At what humidity level in your city do you need one of these ? Thanks

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It would more be the humidity level in your house. If you see humidity levels of over 60%, it would be worth having.

[@Xetenor]

Awesome review Dustin. I just went ahead and got one myself. I think it's a great way to protect your gear and display your gear which is exactly what I want to do. My wife has been nagging me to store all my massive lens collection in a different area as there is no space for them in the computer room haha. So this will do great.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've enjoyed mine for that purpose.

[@cuuppaajoe]

Hi Dustin, when I look something up for research your name inevitably comes up and I’m always happy to see it! Quick question before I make the plunge if you can. Do you think it would be a good idea to store hard drives, meaning external hard drive‘s? I have so many portable ones as back up and don’t have an advanced back up solution. I also have some offsite as well. Thanks in advance!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It doesn't sound like a bad application (and these are on sale at the moment!), but my only concern would be in the case of fire. These are obviously not a replacement for a fire safe.

[@cuuppaajoe]

Dustin Abbott thanks again bud. Yeah I’m storing the portable drives in a fireproof safe.

[@ikleveland]

Im in Atlanta, no such thing as a casual thief unfortunately!! Still buying one, same one, thanks bud

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Enjoy it. I get good use out of mine.

[@doctorlovera]

That seems a great product for some areas in colombia. In bogota is not that usefull but in lowe altutudes moisture must be a nightmare for photographers and this cabinet can prolong lifespam of gear quite a lot. I got a tip (i´ve never used it because i´ve never seen a real winter). When camera gear is outside in the dry cold enviroment for a long time, before you go inside you can put it in a ziplock sealed bag. Then you go indoors and wait until the lens or camera equalizes to the temperature of the room and you can take it out of the bag. Condensation must have been kept out of the ziplock and your camera must be dry.

[@ChaitanyaShukla2503]

Living on Deccan plateau its dry enough through the year that I dont need a dry cabinet but as soon as I go to Western ghats during monsoons I have to put my camera gear in sealed boxes with Silica gel. Considering dry cabinets but still cannot find a good reasonably priced one.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That monsoon season would be tough on gear, for sure.

[@Ultrarmx]

I got one last year due to so much humidity where I live. I got the Sirui and it’s 👍🏼.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'm glad it is making a difference for you!

[@one4allall4one91]

I don't have much gear so a 30L was perfect for me. This is so useful in many ways its a no brainer. Also at 8 watts its less than $9 a year to run.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That sounds perfect!

[@KARLOSVOLTA]

Hi I got the same one thanks for the review my only question is why if they are in the same room the RH is different in the one at the bottom that the one on top

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You might want to control them independently in terms of who has access to what.

[@Twobarpsi]

Thanks for recommending this video. Would you consider this unit dustproof? Thank you!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I would. I've never seen dust on my gear stored in it.

[@r.powell2351]

How can the moisture evaporate away if it's trapped between the lens caps and the lens glass? Shouldn't you take the lens caps off when you put them in the dry cabinet?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

If I do have a very moist lens, I do take the cap off for a while for that reason.

[@r.powell2351]

Thank you for the clarification, Dustin, it's much appreciated.

[@eyesonly4451]

Thanks for the excellent review. My concern is that the shelves do not appear to be constrained from completely pulling out and dumping all your gear on the floor. Is this a concern?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

No, there is a catch that keeps the shelves from fully coming out when just pulling them.

[@eyesonly4451]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the response.

[@shanley1190]

Hi Dustin, thanks for the usual great review! I've recently purchased a smaller version Ruggard. I wanted to know if there is a correlation between ambient tempature and RH to be set on the cabinet. I live in the eastern caribbean ( Barbados) where we're between 27 and 34 degrees celsius. I 've ordered a hygrometer (not sure of the name). How do I use that to set my RH?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I have a hygrometer magnetically attached to the outside of my cabinet. It's mostly out of curiosity to see what the ambient humidity in the house is. You should be able to just set your humidity level in the cabinet and not worry about it. The temperature of the house will affect the temperature in the case, but the cabinet should control the amount of humidity.

[@shanley1190]

Gv@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the info. Happy season to you and family.

[@tracyleepitre6079]

Thank you for this excellent review!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

My pleasure!

[@GurmeetSingh-fr8uo]

Do you place silicon gel in the cabinet?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I do have a few packs in there just for some extra moisture absorptions.

[@JimBailey]

Thank you Mr Abbott

[@howardkahn717]

great topic, thank you....the problem I have is that I live in the northeast of the USA; south Florida and Europe so I think I should find another way, do you have any advice on how I can get the same effect ? thank you.......

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

There are some cases that use a similar principle: bhpho.to/2zK5o5k. They aren't as "pretty", but should accomplish the same thing.

[@howardkahn717]

thank you

[@barbarad9282]

I have the 30L and see you cannot regulate the temp - what temp should it be?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I have mine set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

[@barbarad9282]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I cannot set the temp only humidity.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

If you are inside a house or office, the temperature is going to pretty much be a constant anyway.

[@barbarad9282]

@@DustinAbbottTWI it's staying about 78... the company said that's okay.

[@barbarad9282]

@@DustinAbbottTWI again, I cannot set the temp on mine.

[@rickdeckard9810]

Thanks. Would be great if they had the option for a metal or mesh door for more security.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Not a bad suggestion, really, though you might be going more into a safe

[@rickdeckard9810]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I was just thinking the mesh door won't work, since it won't allow for temperature control. Just would make it a bit more difficult to steal I guess.

[@Jcenas3D]

Hello! What% of humidity is recommended to set it?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've got mine set at 45%

[@danimartinez994]

Is it safe to store your light equipment with the camera gear?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I don't see why not.

[@Pnoysneakerhead24]

question..Do you always have to keep gear in there long term? or would that be the best idea?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You don't have to, but I do. It helps protect everything.

[@Pnoysneakerhead24]

@@DustinAbbottTWI got it! thanks. I just stared using it today maybe ill keep it in there for some time. When not in use Ill definitely keep in there. When im on the go ill keep it in my gear cabinet! thanks

[@anulearntech]

hi, excellent review as always. I really like this one. Can we fit in the 200-600 into this?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It does fit, actually. I have one in there right now.

[@FamilyofTech]

Question. I just bought this cabinet but electrical brakers keeps turning off. It says power is 110 and I'm using it with an 120 outlet. Did you have this issue? Thanks

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I did not have that issue. 110 is standard voltage. You may need to reach out to Ruggard about that.

[@tomveilleux9325]

These devices do not draw much power if they are working properly. They are like low wattage lights. Is it just one branch that is affected? Does this branch pop a breaker when you plug in a 100 watt lamp? Do other branches pop breakers as well with the Ruggard?

[@FamilyofTech]

@@tomveilleux9325 I think is an area of the house that has weaker outlets I guess. I put in next to my media room and it started working. But if I connect it inside the media room it wont work.

[@OttosPhotos]

I just got my 120L, and it has that fresh plastic outgassing smell. Did you air yours out before storing equipment in it? The user manual is very minimal.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I didn't, and it's sucking air out of there all the time anyway, so that should quickly go away.

[@HANOXTWO]

Looking into getting this model, any issues since you've had it? In a year...or so would you recommend?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's worked flawlessly thus far.

[@desirewithinus]

Thank you

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You bet

[@photographerjonathan]

I just buy cheap disposable dehumidifiers at a super market or home improvement place. They cost a couple bucks and last for months. They are just a small plastic box with pellets in it. I have all my gear in plastic boxes with air tight lids. With a disposable dehumidifier in the box. And i have the same dehumidifier in my closet also. It takes no electricity. And works good. every time I open the box, the temperature is cool even when my room is hot and humid.

[@hanswi336]

But you seem to be one of those littering garbage boys never concerned about sustainability....

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's an alternate solution, to be sure, but this is a little more elegant for display and to lock things.

[@photographerjonathan]

( I don't have anything against the Ruggard Cabinet. this is just an apposing opinion ) that is true that it's a display, but if you really want to display your gear it should be at eye level. and the locking part is a deterrent at best, what you are actually doing is showing a crook where all your gear is in a nice see through display case, and if the crook is bold enough to go into your house, he will also be bold enough to break into that display case, or if he is strong enough he will just carry the entire case to his car. that case will only stop a house guest from taking a lens. I thought about getting one of those dry cabinets in the past, don't remember the brand, and then a customer in the camera store told me that he bought one and it stopped working after around a year and a half, so I came up with a different solution. it's simple and easy with no electric, and the read out of the humidity is not needed, all I need to know is that my gear is dry. but I am not saying that the cabinet is bad. it does what you are paying for. and it's worth the money if that is what a person wants. I'm sure the Ruggard cabinet works good. but personally if my goal was just to display my gear. I would just buy a nice glass display case with shelves that is lockable. and put a couple of pieces of weather sealing along the door. and put one of the same disposable dehumidifiers somewhere inside of it.

[@davepastern]

these are great, but awkward for big super telephoto lenses...it seems manufacturers haven't even remotely taken this into account...

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

My Sony 200-600G is pretty large, and it fits in there laying on the top shelf.

[@davepastern]

@@DustinAbbottTWI sans hood yes (on the 500mm). With hood on the 500mm, there's a near 20cm difference in size. With that large front element, I kind of want to keep that hood on.

[@palentier1]

Ballin....!

[@skakdosmer]

Too bad they don't seem to be available in Europe, and the alternatives are much more expensive.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That is a shame.

[@PaulFanMing]

In North America, you don't need this, this is design for Asia because of the weather the lens may get the frangle.

[@johny2424]

If you've ever taken a camera outside in a Canadian winter and then back inside, you'll see just as much condensation as any Asian country when you go from air conditioned indoors to humid outdoors.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's definitely true.

[@state3210]

you must live in the mid west or some desert. If you have ever been to east coast or to Hawaii you'll feel some good humidity for sure. Here in Hawaii it could get to 95% Humidity or even up to 100 sometimes during the Hurricane season.

[@billmoyer3254]

in Florida we have 80 to 100 percent humidity from June to September

[@one4allall4one91]

I also live in Florida. I must say I have seen fungus grow on a backpack I had stored for a year or so so its real. Even tho I can honestly say you can get by with silics bags its a hassle to reenergize or buy new ones.

[@iceshcratiote3635]

Top number hiel

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

???