Understanding air filters

[spidamoo]

Hi folks! Oxygen is one of the less intuitive mechanics in the game so I wanted to share my own findings and learn more from the community.

Some basics

• Your rig has an oxygen generator that takes a battery but does not need a UCC like some other systems do.
  
• You can equip up to 4 air filters in the corresponding slots but you don't have to fill all 4, one is enough for the system to work.
  
• You need both a powered oxygen generator and an air filter in good condition in order for your rig to produce enough oxygen to sustain life.

Now some less obvious and more counterintuitive stuff

• The amount of oxygen produced by oxygen generator seems to be proportional to the condition of air filters.
  
• Having multiple filters installed at the same time seems to use all of them at the same time, but at slower rate.
  
• More filters does not mean better air! This is the most controversial finding. It seems that the rate of producing air is a function of the average condition of all your filters. So let's say you have a used filter at 30% condition and your oxygen is depleting. You install a fresh filter from a store, now you're at a positive delta. However if you remove the old filter, the delta (quite counter-intuitively) goes up even more! This essentially means that you have to throw away your filters before they fully deplete and throw them away with some resource still unused. (That, or drive your truck wearing a space suit)

[🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧]

Originally posted by spidamoo:

• You can equip up to 4 air filters in the corresponding slots but you don't have to fill all 4, one is enough for the system to work.
  

For the love of the gods don't do this people

[Madkine]

Originally posted by spidamoo:

• You can equip up to 4 air filters in the corresponding slots but you don't have to fill all 4, one is enough for the system to work.

If you run only one it wears out faster. (And more than 4 times faster).

[Aperture]

One filter will technically clean enough air for you to live on, but the system was designed for four, and forcing one filter to do the work of four will kill it quickly. The more filters you can keep running at at least minimal capacity, the less you'll ultimately spend on filters. (And if you stumble upon a salvage beacon, or better yet, you've had your sensors upgraded and can seek out salvage, always look it over. Pulling a free filter or two out of the pile now and then will do wonders for your maintenance budget.)

[Awesome Possum]

this is one mechanic that needs serious changing imo. i'm fine with needing to change them, i'm fine with their costs.

filters should degrade at a steady rate. i'm fine with that rate changing depending on how many filters you have in, but it should be steady. it should not snowball.

the degradation of the air system that kicks in when a filter hits 50% should be changed to 25%.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by 🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧:

Originally posted by spidamoo:

• You can equip up to 4 air filters in the corresponding slots but you don't have to fill all 4, one is enough for the system to work.
  

For the love of the gods don't do this people

I don't understand what you're saying here.... don't run 4 or don't run 1? You know why? You didn't amplify your standing on the subject. Why, for the love, should one not do whatever it is you're telling them not to do?

It is beneficial to install all 4 air filters as they're all working easier spreading the load and will individually last longer than if you don't run with 4.

[🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧]

Originally posted by Knottypine:

It is beneficial to install all 4 air filters as they're all working easier spreading the load and will individually last longer than if you don't run with 4.

Basic reading comprehension would suggest I was countering his point that only 1 air filter is enough

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by 🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧:

Originally posted by Knottypine:

It is beneficial to install all 4 air filters as they're all working easier spreading the load and will individually last longer than if you don't run with 4.

Basic reading comprehension would suggest I was countering his point that only 1 air filter is enough

A basic amplification of which part of a statement you are referring to goes a long way. For example, there are two parts to the statement. Anyone with an moderate amount of reading comprehension would understand that a simple comma separation indicates that the two corresponding parts are in relation to each other.

The two parts are: You can install up to 4 air filters, AND one is enough for the system to work.

Normally, when responding in a way such as you did, you would narrow the quote down to the subject matter that you're referring to. Similar to what you did when you replied to me. Context matters. You didn't though, and with no further amplification on your 'don't do this' post, there are reasons to suggest you could be referring to either of the two.

[🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧]

I will repeat myself, since you are the ONLY ONE questioning what I wrote

Basic reading comprehension would suggest I was countering his point that only 1 air filter is enough

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by 🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧:

I will repeat myself, since you are the ONLY ONE questioning what I wrote

Basic reading comprehension would suggest I was countering his point that only 1 air filter is enough

You're literally suggesting that I do not have basic reading comprehension for one, so right off that bat you're insulting my intelligence.

Two, I explained how you left in context for two scenarios, to which you are saying don't do that. Of which there is argument for both scenarios to have an advantage and disadvantage.

[🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧]

Originally posted by Knottypine:

You're literally suggesting that I do not have basic reading comprehension for one, so right off that bat you're insulting my intelligence.

You insulted your own intelligence by failing to use common sense "hmm there are 4 air filter slots, maybe I should use all 4"

Reading comprehension =/= intelligence

[Doctor Tiki]

After reading this thread I can only say two things:

1. Thank you spidamoo for your post
2. I feel your pain Knottypine... they are a special breed.

[What Trigger]

Originally posted by 🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧:

Originally posted by spidamoo:

• You can equip up to 4 air filters in the corresponding slots but you don't have to fill all 4, one is enough for the system to work.
  

For the love of the gods don't do this people

Roger that, will only run 2 or 3 from now on

[🚛 Akehiko ⬛️💀🟧]

Wow guys a whole echo chamber party, just for me, you shouldn't have

[Matt]

I wonder, does it matter if you leave the Compartment Door open? Do they like get Damaged or drain faster if you leave it open?

[Void Dragon]

Can someone explain to me on Recommended difficulty why my Oxygen is on 98% power drain rate when the tank is full, its only generating what it needs (aka pulling -34 but putting out 34), and the suit is maxed out on oxygen? Oh, and no I spacewalked, I dont have leaks.

Just seems to me oxygen is hogging battery for no reason.