Charging a small vehicle from a large block base

[dogwalker1]

I read lots of "you can this" and "you can that" solutions, and every single one I try doesn't work for me (rotors, connectors, etc.) because it always boils down to trying to somewhere connect a large block part to a small one (which the game won't permit). I'm thinking one of three scenarios are going on:

1) the game has been updated and none of those solutions work anymore. (A lot of the solutions are a few years old now, and I understand a lot has changed; I am new to the game.)

2) the posters somehow failed to register that it was a matter of charging a small block car/vehicle at a large block base (although the OPs seemed to make that pretty clear).

3) It is still doable and I'm still missing it somehow.

I'm hoping it is scenario #3, and that someone can spell it out for me like I don't already have a clue what they mean (newbie here) ...and that they've used the technique recently enough to be confident it still works...

...Or do I simply need to build a separate small block base with its own power supply as a designated charging station? I'd really rather incorporate it into my main base.

[Karmaterrorᵁᴷ]

Theres a connector for large and small grid, the two will connect together if the circles line up. You dont have to build a small grid connector on a large grid base, just a large grid connecto. Then line up the small grid connector on the rover/ship :)

Red is large grid connector, green is small grid one...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1979274363

[ShadedMJ]

That was a lot when the only thing I see for a question is "Charging a small vehicle from a large block base".
This seems to be asking for new responses when we don't know what you have seen before, so there are going to be a lot of repeats.

So...

Why not have a connector on the small vehicle to a connector on the station? Connect them, then change the batteries to recharge, wait for them to be charged, change them back to auto, and there you go.

[hippybaker]

don't forget to Lock your connectors ;)


For really small ships, I use rotor to connect to my base. A rotor can accept a small or large grid rotor part. But it IS a bit finicky to get them aligned perfectly

[dogwalker1]

Alright, thanks for the replies folks. So it's the round side of the connectors you use to attach a vehicle to the station, not the square sides (or does it matter?). Anyhow using a connector on the underside of the rover and one in the platform I did get it to work, twice, over the course of many attempts. (So many in fact that I'm wondering if this is too much of a pita to bother with.)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1979543936

Lowering the suspension didn't seem to make it any easier to connect, nor did increasing the connector strength setting... Often times the connectors would appear to be as perfectly aligned as my eye could detect yet the Lock button was greyed out. Any tips to make it easier?

[veryinky]

I connect my rovers to the rear, easier to get the alignment right. If you've played the "Lost Colony" scenario there's a lot of examples of rover docking (and well built rovers) in it.

[dogwalker1]

Originally posted by veryinky:

I connect my rovers to the rear, easier to get the alignment right.

I'd tried that approach before and not gotten it to work - certainly because I was doing something wrong, because I just tried it again and it does work much better - thanks!

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, in some situations I will place the Station connector on a Advanced rotor so I can adjust to specific height :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1845712983
I also like to use a station connector on piston to connect on top or under my cars :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1730560008

A lot can be done, it just need a Engineer trying and testing

[Lordbufu]

Even if your lazy like me, you can still make it work in most cases, the question is how creative are you to make it work ;)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1969319014

And yes this is not ideal, and prone to explosions and clanging if you are not carefull, so dont do this if you dont want to lose things ><

[Buzzard]

The connectors have a band of color where they connect up to other connectors.
Red - Power off or damaged too much - will NOT be possible to connect here
White - Online, no connection available at this time
Yellow - Online, connection possible, attracting other connector (just get close enough and they'll draw each other closer)
Green - Online, LOCKED.


As to my building, I tend to put a convenient-ish connector on the base, then adjust the vehicle to match up. In some cases, it's as simple as holding 'X' to drop the suspension to get low enough (belly connectors). Other times, I've used pistons to lift the whole craft up enough to make the connect. (also useful for replacing wheels that get lost for various reasons)

[dogwalker1]

All great info! Very helpful to people just getting into the game.

For this particular example I'll just settle on the rear connector approach - got this newer design to connect pretty much on the 1st attempt just by lowering the suspension. This vehicle is just intended for scouting / prospecting, so nothing too fancy is required so long as it works. It's hooked up to the conveyor system here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1980401959

Another drawback of this earlier approach:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1979543936
...is that the connector hanging below the chassis like that in order to mate up with the base connector, got damaged often getting on/off the platform.

[Dan2D3D]

On that screenshot I see the car connector seems not to have its conveyor ports well aligned so the car container is not aligned with its connector :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1980401959
(car connector to station connector is OK but not on the car)
Make sure the 2 yellow Large conveyor ports all aligned properly.

+ There are 2 conveyor ports on specific blocks and better use "Large to Large" yellow ports to be able to transfer small and Large items.


Edit

I use the small yellow conveyor ports for Oxygen and Hydrogen but we need large ports to transfer Bottles and all the other large items.

[dogwalker1]

Ah well, I liked the look of this little design as is, but I see your point. I guess I'll have to widen the rear of the car in order to lower the cargo block so it lines up with the connector, for unloading into the conveyor system.