This section contains the complete research for the 5-item event gear stack, organized by research artifact type.
Research Artifacts
| File |
Purpose |
Status |
| STACK |
Gear picks with specs, pricing, BRC compliance, purchase gates |
✅ Complete |
| FEATURES |
Table-stakes features, NTBDs (Nice-to-have), hard constraints per item |
✅ Complete |
| ARCHITECTURE |
Power + storage + security + heat + dust mitigation; solar sizing, trailer plan |
✅ Complete |
| PITFALLS |
Severity-ranked risks: LiPo fire, payload gate, BRC gate denial, dust, regulatory |
✅ Complete |
| SUMMARY |
Synthesis, cross-file dependencies, 5-phase roadmap, verification gates |
✅ Complete |
The 5-Item Gear Stack
| Item |
Status |
Key Spec |
Power Impact |
| E-trike |
Gated |
BRC-legal: pedals + ≤750W + ≤20 mph + 2–4 wheels |
~170–220 lb rack+trike; charges via stock AC charger → inverter |
| Drone |
Deferred |
DJI FCC-authorized; Part 107 for BRC; flies at Saguaro Man |
Battery charging on 12V rail |
| RC Car |
Ready |
Desert rover, 1/10 scale; dusty-bearing hazard |
LiPo charging on 12V rail |
| LED Kite |
Ready |
BRC Tethered Aviation compliant; night lines = hazard |
Negligible |
| 24” 12V TV |
Ready |
Native 12V → zero inverter loss via 48V→12V DC rail |
Highest-leverage add (Victron Orion-Tr 48/12-30) |
Phase-Gated Roadmap
| Phase |
Gate |
Deliverable |
| Phase 0 |
Door-jamb GVWR/GAWR + CAT scale + hitch rating + 12V audit |
Payload verified; heavy purchases unblocked |
| Phase 1 |
Trailer acquired (5×8 enclosed) |
Trike + DF1100T gen + fuel OFF the bus; tongue ~160–255 lb |
| Phase 2 |
48V→12V DC rail installed (Victron Orion) |
TV, USB-PD, drone/RC chargers, LED lights off inverter |
| Phase 3 |
E-trike purchased + rack installed |
BRC-legal mobility; ~12.5–16% usable bank/day added load |
| Phase 4 |
Drone acquired (if Part 107 + FCC model) |
Saguaro Man + regional flights; not BRC 2027 |
Power Budget Impact
- Base loads (fridge ~0.4–0.7 + Starlink ~0.6–1.0 + laptop/lights ~1.5–2.5) ≈ 3.5–4.85 kWh/day
- Full gear stack adds ~30–42% of usable bank/day (~12.5–16% gear only)
- Solar sizing: ~1,000–1,200W array for gear stack (no-gen); ~600–800W with DF1100T gen carried (fuel-saver/quiet-hours)
- Generator changes everything: 2–3 hr gen run rebuilds bank → all-day AC + trike charging becomes trivial
Top Risks (from PITFALLS)
- LiPo/Li-ion fire — unattended/overnight charging inside bus (Severity 5)
- Payload gate fails — bus already near GVWR; CAT scale mandatory before buying
- BRC gate denial — throttle-only/no-pedal/1000W+/Class 3 e-trikes turned away
- Drone confiscation — BRC 2027 registration closed, Part 107 required
- Dust destruction — playa/desert kills bearings, electronics, air filters
Next Actions
- Complete Phase 0 verification — door-jamb sticker, CAT scale, hitch class/rating, 12V audit
- Order Victron Orion-Tr 48/12-30 — highest-leverage single component (enables TV + 12V rail)
- Source 5×8 enclosed trailer — used $1,500–3,000; gates trike + gen OFF bus
- Select e-trike model — must have working pedals, ≤750W, ≤20 mph, 2–4 wheels for BRC