Editing MayFirst2012NYCCrateDeployment (section)

= Discussion =

Some builders mailing list notes from the time of deployment:

  RE: Lead-Acid batteries -- IME w/ AGM batteries, you MUST pop for a microcontroller operated 
  battery charger with the appropriate AGM curve if you want your AGM battery to live much longer
  than a Chinese NiMH cell.  I made the mistake of using inexpensive float chargers on mine, and now
  suffer from greatly reduced capacity as a result.  I suggest using gel-cell packs instead.  They're less expensive, 
  far more tolerant of the most readily available / inexpensive battery chargers that people who don't know lots about 
  battery chemistry will tend to buy. and have all the leak-proof capabilities of AGM.  I strongly recommend using CTEK 
  chargers on AGM batteries.  BTW, if you do use a car battery, don't count on it being able to last long if it's put 
  back in a car.  Cranking batteries die quickly when you deep cycle them.

  RE: Small inverters -- If it doesn't have "PURE SINE" plastered all over it, it's not.  If it does, it might be but 
  I'd still check.  Instead of running wall warts (that can be difficult and too costly to replace when you destroy 
  them) from a cheap inverter, how about using equally inexpensive "universal" DC-DC converters made to plug into a 
  standard auto cigar socket (and sometimes EmPower airline seat jacks), with switchable voltage outputs?


There were after-the-fact mailing list discussions about this deployment on the [http://freenetworkfoundation.org/pipermail/discuss_freenetworkfoundation.org/2012-June/001292.html dicuss] and [http://freenetworkfoundation.org/pipermail/builders_freenetworkfoundation.org/2012-June/000704.html builders] mailing lists in June 2012.