[Ma-linux] Re: [Dclug] Last Steps in DSL - Verizon installation

[Przemek Klosowski]

   I wanted to build a DC battery backup for my toy boxes (Linksys, SMC, 
   Cablemodems) but that still leaves the cisco switch and router to be 
   UPS'ed. Just holding up the WAP and cablemodem for 12 hours would be cool 

Since most UPS batteries are lead-acid, it should be possible to hook
regular car batteries in parallel (using fusible links, presumably). I
could see two disadvantages: car batteries are open-cell, and could
evaporate water and/or acid contributing to corrosion of nearby
equipment, and they are optimized for high current not deep discharge,
so they might fail after fewer power failures.

   though. High density living, the only WAP in the hood.

I wonder how it'd work out, considering that the commercial networking
equipment (comcast/verizon street boxes) are on their own UPS and are
likely to fail within few hours of the outage as well. During Katrina,
most cell towers in coastal areas worked through the initial outages,
when their generators kicked in, but the phone company couldn't
resupply all the diesel tanks in time and cell network failed within
few days.