[Bug] Power drains faster than it can be generated.

[Blandman Bob]

On my base, I had installed two bioreactors, and four solar panels.

I don't know what's causing such a severe power leakage, but whatever it is, it is draining my base by 6 power every like, one second.

I know that power drain by means of how when it had gone down to basically 0, it'd count up, and when it hit 6, it went back down to 0, and continually repeats as I post and edit this.

Before the most recent build as of this post (51864), the solution I used to stop this was by quitting to the main menu, and jumping back into the save. Now that the solution apparently doesn't work, this is a big issue for me.

Is this something commonly known or not? I would think this is pretty game breaking, seeing as to how you can do virtually nothing given this issue. If it's only happening to me, I question how.

To note; It is daylight, and my solar panels (which are now only remaining, given I deconstructed the bioreactors, because you know, they weren't helping much) still can't charge up enough. The base does not get enough power to construct items in it's fabricator.

I have also deconstructed any power blocks that had been in my base. The fabricator, my battery charger, the water filtration machine, the communications relay and a spotlight next to my outsea garden, yet the issue still persists.

[El Destructo]

The devs definitely know about it, there is a trello card which is specifically referring to the water filtration unit, but as you've seen it seems to effect basically every object that draws power.

It always starts off reasonably, but seems to ramp up exponentially for some reason, until you're losing triple-digit power units every update; it makes anything with power draw rather unsustainable.

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by El Destructo:

The devs definitely know about it, there is a trello card which is specifically referring to the water filtration unit, but as you've seen it seems to effect basically every object that draws power.

It always starts off reasonably, but seems to ramp up exponentially for some reason, until you're losing triple-digit power units every update; it makes anything with power draw rather unsustainable.

So pretty much I just gotta wait?

[El Destructo]

If you're feeling adventurous, my only personal theory about it which I haven't attampted to play around with yet is this:
at night as solar panels start totally emptying, it starts drawing from a new one, but keeps drawing from old ones at the same time, causing it to eventually be draining humorously large amounts of power from everything at once.

So MAYBE, big maybe, not having panels is the best way to mitigate the problem, but I've been too lazy to try and see if it changes anything. Maybe this playthrough I will, but you're welcome to attempt yourself. I'm assuming it's going to be far more complex an issue than I'm aware, though, considering it isn't fixed yet.

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by El Destructo:

If you're feeling adventurous, my only personal theory about it which I haven't attampted to play around with yet is this:
at night as solar panels start totally emptying, it starts drawing from a new one, but keeps drawing from old ones at the same time, causing it to eventually be draining humorously large amounts of power from everything at once.

So MAYBE, big maybe, not having panels is the best way to mitigate the problem, but I've been too lazy to try and see if it changes anything. Maybe this playthrough I will, but you're welcome to attempt yourself. I'm assuming it's going to be far more complex an issue than I'm aware, though, considering it isn't fixed yet.

Why would they have the power stored in the panels themselves? It should go directly to the base itself, shouldn't it?

They should add some sort of capacitor base module that stockpiles that stuff, if this situation is such an issue.

[El Destructo]

Originally posted by Blandman Bob:

Why would they have the power stored in the panels themselves? It should go directly to the base itself, shouldn't it?

They should add some sort of capacitor base module that stockpiles that stuff, if this situation is such an issue.

The power structures store the energy, you can see the tooltips if you look at them and watch as they drain. Solar panels each store 250 energy when attached directly to a base, I think it is half that if they are elsewhere.

Doesn't mean my theory isn't wrong, but it is something I've considered.

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by El Destructo:

Originally posted by Blandman Bob:

Why would they have the power stored in the panels themselves? It should go directly to the base itself, shouldn't it?

They should add some sort of capacitor base module that stockpiles that stuff, if this situation is such an issue.

The power structures store the energy, you can see the tooltips if you look at them and watch as they drain. Solar panels each store 250 energy when attached directly to a base, I think it is half that if they are elsewhere.

Doesn't mean my theory isn't wrong, but it is something I've considered.

I see. Well, when I get done rebuilding my base, I will test the theory.

Before you had posted, I was already removing one of my multipurpose rooms. Thinking maybe it was the base itself.

[El Destructo]

Currently using console cheats to test stuff. Bioreactors produce power too slowly, and will start emptying and run in to the bug I assume the solar panels to be reaching. Nuclear reactor is producing faster than one filtration unit so far, so may be able to keep it running correctly if maintained. Hasn't started consuming power in unusual amounts yet.

Given the way the game seems to prefer drawing power from one place at a time, and if I'm not completely wrong, so far it seems like the best way to do water filtration is with small satellite bases using self-contained nuclear power and a single filter. Haven't tested the speed of thermal, since I'm not near a vent.

At the rate this is going, though, I might cheat my way down to the active lava zone and play around just for giggles.

I might consider my theory proven at the moment. This setup has produced two salt and one water, and the power draw is still as expected. I even have enough surplus to craft in the building.

[El Destructo]

Okay, so, at the very least there is something very wrong with solar panels. Just to see if the version I'm at didn't happen to get patched, tested them.

Mostly fine day one, maybe a tiny bit of inflation in power draw near night.

Then at night time, it was perfect. Just 3 per update power draw like it should be.

However, come morning it blew the hell up. As the panels started to attempt to recharge, the power usage went totally gangbusters and 4000 energy worth of solar panels is just being floored constantly.

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by El Destructo:

Okay, so, at the very least there is something very wrong with solar panels. Just to see if the version I'm at didn't happen to get patched, tested them.

Mostly fine day one, maybe a tiny bit of inflation in power draw near night.

Then at night time, it was perfect. Just 3 per update power draw like it should be.

However, come morning it blew the hell up. As the panels started to attempt to recharge, the power usage went totally gangbusters and 4000 energy worth of solar panels is just being floored constantly.

So what does that mean? There's something wrong with the way Solar Panels function at current?

[El Destructo]

It certainly feels like there is. Something seems to be broken by them being discharged, and then attempting to become charged again while something that drains power is active in the base.

The nuclear plant ran a full cycle with no issues, and I even had 3 thermal plants servicing one in the lava zone for a little bit that seemed generally okay, if a little on the poor end of power surplus. But the solar panels just died, horribly, on day 2.

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by El Destructo:

It certainly feels like there is. Something seems to be broken by them being discharged, and then attempting to become charged again while something that drains power is active in the base.

The nuclear plant ran a full cycle with no issues, and I even had 3 thermal plants servicing one in the lava zone for a little bit that seemed generally okay, if a little on the poor end of power surplus. But the solar panels just died, horribly, on day 2.

That's unfortunate. I hope they fix that soon. They're the most fast charging and reliant, starting out in a freedom or survival world.

[SireDragonChester]

I have simular problem at my base in the past, But haven't played in month or so, cuz been waiting hopefully for next update to fix few things.
I have Couple bioreactors, maybe 10+ solar panels and 2 or 3 water ones. Temp around 29+ most times.. And seems be losing more power than making during the day, Wasn't charging any batteries or anything. Can't remember if was still having issue last time I played.

I hope they add panels that show current power draw and how much power your making. any kind of "read out" would be nice to for base and the Sub :) And able turn off rooms or devices need to help save power when running low..

So hopefully if there is bug they track it down :)
-Sire
Game Pc: i7 3770k 3.5 Ghz/16 GB Ram/GTX 980TI SC/2x 240 SSD GB/Win 7 64bit

[Blandman Bob]

Originally posted by Sire:

I have simular problem at my base in the past, But haven't played in month or so, cuz been waiting hopefully for next update to fix few things.
I have Couple bioreactors, maybe 10+ solar panels and 2 or 3 water ones. Temp around 29+ most times.. And seems be losing more power than making during the day, Wasn't charging any batteries or anything. Can't remember if was still having issue last time I played.

I hope they add panels that show current power draw and how much power your making. any kind of "read out" would be nice to for base and the Sub :) And able turn off rooms or devices need to help save power when running low..

So hopefully if there is bug they track it down :)
-Sire
Game Pc: i7 3770k 3.5 Ghz/16 GB Ram/GTX 980TI SC/2x 240 SSD GB/Win 7 64bit

As per the theory of The Destroyer (Or what have you) up there, the issue could be the solar panels.

And as per this post, I have switched purely to four bioreactors, and chinese potatoes. And so far, that seems to have worked, meaning the issue was the solar panels.

Although, it was also the filtration machine too. Even with four bioreactors ran entirely on potatoes, it drains power like mad.

[El Destructo]

Yeah, the water filtration uses a lot. It nearly matches the power generation rate of a nuclear plant, the reactor has a small surplus power generation.

[SireDragonChester]

Originally posted by Blandman Bob:

Originally posted by Sire:

I have simular problem at my base in the past, But haven't played in month or so, cuz been waiting hopefully for next update to fix few things.
I have Couple bioreactors, maybe 10+ solar panels and 2 or 3 water ones. Temp around 29+ most times.. And seems be losing more power than making during the day, Wasn't charging any batteries or anything. Can't remember if was still having issue last time I played.

I hope they add panels that show current power draw and how much power your making. any kind of "read out" would be nice to for base and the Sub :) And able turn off rooms or devices need to help save power when running low..

So hopefully if there is bug they track it down :)
-Sire
Game Pc: i7 3770k 3.5 Ghz/16 GB Ram/GTX 980TI SC/2x 240 SSD GB/Win 7 64bit

As per the theory of The Destroyer (Or what have you) up there, the issue could be the solar panels.

And as per this post, I have switched purely to four bioreactors, and chinese potatoes. And so far, that seems to have worked, meaning the issue was the solar panels.

Although, it was also the filtration machine too. Even with four bioreactors ran entirely on potatoes, it drains power like mad.

Ok I'll have to try that and take out the solar panels thanks for head up :)
-Sire