Detailed problem utilizing and exporting Helium.

[iliketostayhome]

*I am playing on console. Not PC*

I am having a hard time extracting, storing, and utilizing Helium. Specifically simultaneously.

I use a gas generator for power, which utilizes Helium. I want to both feed the generator, and ship the excess helium out through the inter-system cargo module.

I also have to feed helium to the inter-system cargo module to power it.

With two extractors (one industrial) I don't seem to be able to power both. This seems crazy to me.

BUT, even if we forget about the inter-system cargo module completely, I still cannot figure out how to siphon off excess helium without starving the fuel generator. Giving the helium storage container two output paths will starve the generator and it will stop running. I don't understand.

Also, the local time vs Universal Time is a factor that may be working against me, but I'm not sure. Please help with any insight to that.

I am on a moon where 1 Local hour = 2.1 UT hours.

Alpha Centauri - Zamka (Moon of Olivas)

My setup:

I have three gas storage stacked vertically.

I have two extractors (one is industrial) feeding into the top of the storage.

The storage containers are linked together where the product trickles down and collects in the bottom storage, where I can easily walk up and access it.

The bottom storage has an output path to the generator.

~

If I connect both the generator and the inter-system cargo module to the bottom storage, they will use Helium faster than I can extract it, apparently.

If I route the gas to both the generator and another gas storage (for export), it will starve the generator.

I want to be exporting helium to my other bases! That's what this is all about! Do I need to have 4 industrial extractors going? Is local time vs Universal Time working against me? Am I dumb and missing something obvious?

Please help me understand the systems better.

A couple extras:

1. My main base completely vanished today, minus the inter-system cargo module. None of my other stuff was present. At that point, the outpost marker disappeared from the map. Scared the f*** outta me. I reset my console and it came back.

2. I became randomly unable to interact with the stations and furniture in my outpost building because they were all somehow "obstructed". Couldn't fix it for anything. Eventually went away.

[iliketostayhome]

Why is no one helping where are all the nerds at

[Dre G Writer]

so first, local time vs universal time is not a factor here since all of this is on the same planet so everything is running on the same time. Time scale is only a factor when involving other planets.

Second, your producing no where near enough to do all of that with only two extractors. even if both of them were lvl3(highest level) extractors.

This is because the operating cost of the cargo link system uses up 5 hellium per minute, and the generator, if your using the one I think your using, the 30 power on, it uses 2 or 3 hellium per minute as well. if I remember correctly, a lvl1 hellium extractor produces like 1 hellium every 1 minute.

So you would have to produce AT MINIMUM 9 or so hellium per minute just to power the generator and the linking module both, and two extractors, even if both were lvl3, would not be enough to power them both and export access to some where else.

3rd, the cargo linking module will snatch up EVERYTHING in all containers connected to it until it fills up, which is 300 weight limit. If your generators are pulling from the same container source as the cargo link system, the cargo link will straight up take all of the helium before the generator can even use it, thus the reason the generator shuts off. You would need to produce more than 300 weight per few minutes for you to have enough for the generator to take any extra.

It is not wise to have so many things all sucking resources from the same extractors. You need to have separate extractors for everything if you want the chain to run smoothly, some for shipping, some to fuel generator and some to fuel the linking module.

I've already been through the issue your experiencing and learned it only works well when you have separate extractors for everything.

[iliketostayhome]

Thank you so much. I'll still have some trial and error, but you resolutely pointed out my issue. I really appreciate it.

I was just surprised at how quickly I was accumulating solid resources that I thought surely 2 gas extractors was overkill. I guess not.

Thanks again. Really helped.

[blumoose]

I found that the generators seem to consume a ridiculous amount of He3. I have just gone with solar, wind, and fusion for my power needs. Early, that meant solar even in places where I had to spam a dozen plants or more.

[Dre G Writer]

Originally posted by blumoose:

I found that the generators seem to consume a ridiculous amount of He3. I have just gone with solar, wind, and fusion for my power needs. Early, that meant solar even in places where I had to spam a dozen plants or more.

Yes, generators that consumes resources are the absolute worst ways to generator power. Only use those in situations where you have NO OTHER means of getting power on that planet. The more advanced generators dont use resources, and gives a lot of power, but it requires the rarest and hard to find materials to build them tho.

[blumoose]

Originally posted by Dre G Writer:

Originally posted by blumoose:

I found that the generators seem to consume a ridiculous amount of He3. I have just gone with solar, wind, and fusion for my power needs. Early, that meant solar even in places where I had to spam a dozen plants or more.

Yes, generators that consumes resources are the absolute worst ways to generator power. Only use those in situations where you have NO OTHER means of getting power on that planet. The more advanced generators dont use resources, and gives a lot of power, but it requires the rarest and hard to find materials to build them tho.

It would be ok if it used a reasonable amount of He3, but it would have to be something like the smallest He3 plant able to power two of them. Space can be an issue in an outpost, but not so much that you can't find room to spam solar plants to handle the difference.

I am not really sure if they He3 use wasn't playtested or if there's a bug, tbh. But it is definitely not worth dealing with. As it was, I only tried it on a planet that could generate its own He3.

The first fusion plant tech is a little difficult to make, but most of the materials aren't THAT hard to come by. Getting them generated automatically takes more work and a fair number of outposts. I haven't gotten up to the top tier fusion power yet. It's definitely a lot easier to use, even if logically it should require some sort of fuel. I don't even get the lore about He3 power -- how are they generating power if it isn't fusion using He3?

[iliketostayhome]

Originally posted by blumoose:

I found that the generators seem to consume a ridiculous amount of He3. I have just gone with solar, wind, and fusion for my power needs. Early, that meant solar even in places where I had to spam a dozen plants or more.

Yeah, at this cost I'd definitely prefer to spam a bunch of less efficient power sources than go through all this.