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[[File:electrical-network-example-1.png|thumb|right|A basic modular power plant.]]
 
The '''Electric network''' is used to power a lot of different machines; the game can hardly be played without using [[Electricity]]. Every machine has its own internal electric capacity. When energy is produced, it is evenly distributed to all machines in the network that need electricity.
The '''Electric network''' is used to power a lot of different machines; the game can hardly be played without using [[Electricity]]. Every machine has its own internal electric capacity. When energy is produced, it is evenly distributed to all machines in the network that need electricity.


== Beginner ==
== Beginner ==
=== Connecting up power and balancing it ===
=== Generators ===
'''Task: connect producers to consumers with distribution network and balance the consumption with the production.'''
[[File:electrical-network-example-1.png|thumb|right|A basic modular power plant.]]
{| class="wikitable"
| {{imagelink|steam-engine|Steam engine}} || The [[Steam engine]] consumes heated water to generate energy. [[Boiler]]s are used to heat the water consuming [[Fuel]]. [[Pump]]s are used to emerge water from the sea.
|-
| {{imagelink|solar-panel|Solar panel}} || [[Solar Panel]]s generate a small amount of energy only at daylight. They require a lot of material and research but provide electrical energy without consuming [[Fuel]] or producing pollution.
|-
|}
 
=== Storage ===
{| class="wikitable"
| {{imagelink|basic-accumulator|Basic accumulator}} || Stores and provides electrical energy.
|-
| {{imagelink|storage-tank|Storage tank}} || [[Storage tank]]s can be used to store steam for later consumption by [[Steam engine]]s.
|-
|}
 
=== Distribution ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! Total raw !! Coverage area !! Own size !! Absolute / Effective coverage (in [[Tile]]) !! Cov. rel. to small el. pole || Wire reach
|-
| {{imagelink|small-electric-pole|Small electric pole}} || {{icon|raw-wood|1|Raw wood}} {{icon|copper-plate|1|copper_plate}} || 5 x 5  || 1 x 1 || 25 / 24 || 100% ||  8
|-
| {{imagelink|medium-electric-pole|Medium electric pole}} || {{icon|steel-plate|2|Steel plate}} {{icon|copper-plate|2|copper_plate}} || 7 x 7 || 1 x 1 || 49 / 48 || 196% || 9
|-
| {{imagelink|big-electric-pole|Big electric pole}} || {{icon|steel-plate|5|Steel plate}} {{icon|copper-plate|5|copper_plate}} || 4 x 4 || 2 x 2 || 16 / 12 || 65% || 30
|-
| {{imagelink|substation|Substation}} || {{icon|plastic-bar|10|plastic_bar}} {{icon|steel-plate|10|Steel plate}} {{icon|copper-plate|55|copper_plate}} {{icon|iron-plate|25|Iron plate}} || 14 x 14 || 2 x 2 || 196 / 192 || 784% || 14
|-
| {{imagelink|copper-cable|Copper cable}} || {{icon|copper-plate|0.5|copper_plate}}  || colspan=5 | Wire reach depends on joined poles
|-
|}


* Power poles (distribution) cover a certain area on the ground. Hover over a pole to see its coverage area in light blue.
=== Connection ===
* Every electrical device (producer, consumer, storage) within this area is invisibly connected to that pole.
For connecting a generator with a consumer both items need to be in a powered area of the same electric network. Electric poles create an covered area of different size around them. If placed close enough two poles connect and form a network. An item is 'connected' as soon as one block is in an covered area. Each electric pole has a GUI providing information about the whole electric network. When hovering a pole you get an overall satisfaction bar in the tooltip.
* Build [[Steam engine]]s and/or [[Solar panel]]s (with [[Basic accumulator]]s for night time) to generate power. See [[Power Production]].
* Connect the poles to build a bigger network, so that the power can flow from production to consumers.
* Left-click on a pole (at the bottom of a pole!) to open the [[Electric network/Infoscreen]] for that network.
* Hover over a pole to see overall network satisfaction/saturation. Hover a steam engine to see more info.


=== Poles and networks ===
* Unconnected poles build their own electric network! You can make as many electric networks as desired.
* If you build near enough to another pole, they will connect automatically. This takes no extra wire(s).
* Use shift-click on a existing pole to remove its connections to other poles
* Use shift-click on a existing pole to remove its connections to other poles
* Unconnected poles can be connected with a single [[Copper cable]] dragging from pole to pole (Right click on the ''bottom'' of the pole.)
* Unconnected poles can be connected with a single [[Copper cable]] dragging from pole to pole (Right click on the ''bottom'' of the pole.)

Revision as of 13:14, 21 March 2016


The Electric network is used to power a lot of different machines; the game can hardly be played without using Electricity. Every machine has its own internal electric capacity. When energy is produced, it is evenly distributed to all machines in the network that need electricity.

Beginner

Generators

File:Electrical-network-example-1.png
A basic modular power plant.
Placeholder icon.png
Steam engine		 The Steam engine consumes heated water to generate energy. Boilers are used to heat the water consuming Fuel. Pumps are used to emerge water from the sea.
Placeholder icon.png
Solar panel		 Solar Panels generate a small amount of energy only at daylight. They require a lot of material and research but provide electrical energy without consuming Fuel or producing pollution.

Storage

Placeholder icon.png
Basic accumulator		 Stores and provides electrical energy.
Placeholder icon.png
Storage tank		 Storage tanks can be used to store steam for later consumption by Steam engines.

Distribution

Item Total raw Coverage area Own size Absolute / Effective coverage (in Tile) Cov. rel. to small el. pole Wire reach
Placeholder icon.png
Small electric pole
Placeholder icon.png
1
Placeholder icon.png
1
 5 x 5 1 x 1 25 / 24 100% 8
Placeholder icon.png
Medium electric pole
Placeholder icon.png
2
Placeholder icon.png
2
 7 x 7 1 x 1 49 / 48 196% 9
Placeholder icon.png
Big electric pole
Placeholder icon.png
5
Placeholder icon.png
5
 4 x 4 2 x 2 16 / 12 65% 30
Substation.png
Substation
Placeholder icon.png
10
Placeholder icon.png
10
Placeholder icon.png
55
Placeholder icon.png
25
 14 x 14 2 x 2 196 / 192 784% 14
Placeholder icon.png
Copper cable
Placeholder icon.png
0.5
 Wire reach depends on joined poles

Connection

For connecting a generator with a consumer both items need to be in a powered area of the same electric network. Electric poles create an covered area of different size around them. If placed close enough two poles connect and form a network. An item is 'connected' as soon as one block is in an covered area. Each electric pole has a GUI providing information about the whole electric network. When hovering a pole you get an overall satisfaction bar in the tooltip.

  • Use shift-click on a existing pole to remove its connections to other poles
  • Unconnected poles can be connected with a single Copper cable dragging from pole to pole (Right click on the bottom of the pole.)
  • You can use place-key (default left mouse) while running/driving, to auto-place poles.

More info

High density accumulator array consisting of 48 basic accumulators and a substation providing 240 kJ capacity.

The power demand of a network will be fed by power sources in a specific order. If the primary source cannot fully satisfy the demand, additional power is drawn from the second source and so on until no more sources are available. The current order (version 0.9.8) is the following:

  1. Solar panels
  2. Steam engines
  3. Accumulators

With this order in mind, it is common to charge accumulators with Solar panels during the day and to use the stored energy of accumulators overnight automatically.

A newly-placed electric pole will be automatically connected to nearby poles according to the following rules:

  1. It will be connected to the closest pole available
  2. It won't be connected to 2 poles connected to each other (ie. it won't form a 3 pole triangle)
  3. It will be connected to other available poles, starting with the closest ones

Copper cable can be used to manually connect 2 poles. This will use up the wire, which can't be later retrieved. Default placement mode doesn't use up wires.

Belts and all other entities can be placed in masses by keep pressing the place key, and this works for power poles too: Hold place-key (default left mouse button) to set the first pole. With the button held down, run in any direction. The next pole is placed at the farthest point and connects to the previous, eliminating the need for micromanagement of pole placement.

This works also from a car or train, which enables you to place the electric poles very quickly!

Advanced

See also

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