Power and logic: Difference between revisions

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Trigger signals nearly identically to power, but are transmitted by [[TriggerWire|TriggerWires]] instead ([[Antenna|Antennas]] work with both power and triggers). The [[TriggerSwitch]] is also available as counterpart to the regular [[switch]]. Trigger signals are generally produced when something occurs, an example would be a [[button]] being clicked.

In waste of space, power generation can roughly be split into three categories, these are;

# Find a [[coal]] node and place an [[extractor]] on it, the front side should face away from the node

# Resize a [[bin]] to '''10×10×10''', attach it to the front of the [[extractor]]

# Place [[BurnerGenerator|BurnerGenerators]] onto the bin, or connect them to the [[bin]] using [[Chute|chutes]].

# Connect ''<small>(wires)</small>'' the [[BurnerGenerator|BurnerGenerators]] to a [[PowerCell]] and drop a piece of [[coal]] into the [[bin]]

[[Gasoline]]-based setups are a bit more difficult. They're also not a great choice for powering your base due to low efficiency (processing [[oil]] takes a lot of power). However, they're great for ships as [[CombustionTurbine|CombustionTurbines]] aren't as volatile as [[Reactor|reactors]] and still have a decent power output. If you are getting your [[gasoline]] from somewhere else (eg. on a ship refueling from a base), only follow steps 5. and 6.;

# Set up [[oil]] extraction. You can extract it from mountains.

# Connect ''<small>([[Pipe|pipes]])</small>'' container(s) to what you are using to extract [[oil]] and store it in them

# Connect ''<small>([[Pipe|pipes]])</small>'' the containers to a [[Refinery]]. Do not power it yet.

# Connect filters to the [[refinery]], to these you'll attach [[Container|container(s)]], or [[Pipe|pipes]] leading to them. Configure the filters to only allow [[Gasoline]] past.

# Connect ''<small>([[Pipe|pipes]])</small>'' the [[gasoline]] containers to [[CombustionTurbine|CombustionTurbine(s)]]

# Connect ''<small>([[Wire|wires]])</small>'' the [[CombustionTurbine|CombustionTurbine(s)]], the refinery and what you are using to extract [[oil]] to [[PowerCell|PowerCell(s)]].

# Power the [[refinery]]. You can do this with a few [[Battery|batteries]].

Solar power is incredibly easy to set up. Just connect [[SolarPanel|SolarPanels]] (which have direct view of the [[Star|sun]] and are either around a [[star]] or in a [[Planets|planet]] where it's day) to [[PowerCell|PowerCells]]. Yup, that's it. Due to this, solar power is an amazing source of energy for ships or space bases.

Its power output is affected by the time of day, as well as the proximity to your star, as well as its type (eg. [[SolarPanel|SolarPanels]] around [[Neutron Star|Neutron Stars]] generate much more energy than those around [[M Star (Red)|Red Giants]]).

[[Boiler|Boilers]] are an interesting way of generating power. They aren't often used as better solutions are often available by the time you can set them up. They use [[coal]] to turn [[water]] into [[steam]], which can then be run through [[SteamTurbine|SteamTurbines]]. If you have a large starterbase or are stuck with [[coal]], they are a decent option;

# Set up [[water]] extraction. Either pump it from the sea using [[Pump|pumps]] or get it by [[Melter|melting]] [[ice]] which you can mine from mountains. Store this [[water]] in [[Container|container(s)]].

# Also set up [[coal]] extraction. Store the [[coal]] in a [[bin]].

# Connect <small>''([[Chute|chutes]], [[Pipe|pipes]])''</small> both the [[coal]] and the [[water]] to as many [[Boiler|boilers]] as they can support

# Connect ''<small>([[Pipe|pipes]])</small>'' the [[Boiler|boilers]] to a [[container]] which will store [[steam]]

# Connect ''<small>([[Pipe|pipes]])</small>'' the [[steam]] [[container]] to [[SteamTurbine|SteamTurbine(s)]]

# Connect ''<small>([[Wire|wires]])</small>'' the [[SteamTurbine|SteamTurbines]] to a [[PowerCell]]

[[Reactor|Reactors]] are a great way of generating power for bases. They aren't ideal for smaller ships due to their high water consumption, however larger ships should have no problem fitting the necessary water [[Container|Containers]] needed for running a [[Reactor]] for a meaningful amount of time. Note that the [[SteamTurbine|SteamTurbines]] required to generate power from, well, steam (duh) are quite large, so make sure you have enough room for them if you're doing this on a ship. This guide assumes that you'll be creating a single-reactor setup;

# Set up [[water]] extraction via [[Pump|Pumps]] or [[Melter|Melters]]. [[reactor|Reactors]] consume large amounts of water, so you will need a reliable source of it.

# Set up a baseplate on which you'll build the reactor. Or not. You can build a reactor setups on terrain if you really wanted to. Onto it, attach the [[reactor]].

# Onto the [[Reactor]], attach two [[TemperatureSensor|TemperatureSensors]]. Configure one to <code>-inf:1000</code>, and the other to <code>1001:inf</code>

# Attach a piece of [[Polysilicon]] set to Mode 1/Deactivate to the former, and another piece of [[Polysilicon]] set to Mode 0/Activate to the latter. Ensure both the [[TemperatureSensor|TemperatureSensors]] '''AND''' the [[Polysilicon]] are touching the [[Reactor]].

# Provide the [[Reactor]] with water from one side. Make sure you aren't directly connecting it to your water supply as empty [[Container|Containers]] could fill with [[steam]]. To prevent this, you can use a [[Filter]] configured to "Water". You should also add a [[Valve]] so that you can store water for later use ([[Reactor|Reactors]] consume water even if they are not generating steam! I think. It's been a while since I checked.).

# Connect the [[SteamTurbine|SteamTurbines]] to your [[PowerCell|PowerCells]] using [[Wire|Wires]], [[Antenna|Antennas]] or [[Relay|Relays]].

# Place a bin onto the back of the reactor. [[NuclearWaste|Nuclear waste]] will be dispensed here.

# Add a piece of [[Polysilicon]] set to Mode 2/FlipFlop to the reactor. Connect it to a [[Button]]. If the temperature is nearing 1200 '''OR''' the fuel rods are spent, click the [[Button]].

# Finally, add four pieces of [[uranium]] into the [[reactor]].

If you are on a planet that does not have [[uranium]] readily available , you can instead make what's known as a custom boiler or a custom reactor. The idea is simple. [[Extractor|Extractors]] mine [[ice]], [[ZapWire|ZapWires]] melt [[ice]] into [[steam]], [[steam]] floats up, [[Container|Containers]] collect steam. Do you see where I'm going with this? No? Well, here's how to make one.

# The first step is to set up [[ice]] extraction. Ice is part of the stone extra-drops loot table (Mountains), it can also be found on planet rings, as they are either made of stone or ice. Next, install a [[Extractor]], configure it to extract "Ice", and slap it on the previously mentioned mountain. Now you have some [[ice]]!

# After that, you'll need to grab everything else you need. That's a [[Dispenser]], a [[ZapWire]], a SteamTurbine, a [[Container]], a [[Bin]], and some building materials (preferably [[glass]]).

# Then, assemble the custom boiler. Construct a chamber with a ZapWire as the floor, a Dispenser in one the walls connected to a Bin of Ice, and put a Container as the roof which will pick up the Steam, finally, connect the SteamTurbine to the Container and activate the Dispenser. <!-- I might provide a example image -->

If you've made it this far, <big>'''good job!'''</big> You've learnt the basics of power and triggers, and built a power generation setup for your [[Building A Base|base]] or [[Building A Ship|ship]].