Power Conduits

[Zav]

So I'm trying to extend power from my wood-fired generator to my living area (generator is a different building with my smelter/clothes maker/electric stove)

Do I have to connect the Power Conduit to the generator, then run power conduits all the way to my living area?

Reading some things online that contradict each other. Thanks

[Los.Injurus.Bob.Blunderton]

Yes, power requiring objects may only attach to cables within 5~6 squares of a main line.
Put a main line past all your buildings. Run it around if needed, try NOT to run it THROUGH the building, especially through stockpiles. Disaster will inevitably result if you run a line through your buildings, especially stockpiles or small bedrooms. Fire will go bonkers in there, and it heats up the room VERY fast. You can't even get in to fight it unless someone was in while it happened or it's a very large room (large enough to need pillars!). Power conduit can be run along your walkways (and hallways if it must go in a building, make sure hallways are VENTED but still have doors leading to the outside, to allow heat to dissapate in an emergency).
Eventually you will get a BZZZT message and a fire notification. This is a short-circut, this happens periodically. If you get the industrialization mod, it may come with better conduit later on in the game via research. As I said, keep the lines out of your bedrooms, dining rooms, rec rooms, workshops, stockpiles especially, etc. Leave them outside or in halls.

[AlP]

When you open the power menu, your powergrid becomes highlighted in blue. You need to directly connect the power conduit to the generator, and get it close enough to your electric devices (the devices have their own tiny cables that automatically connect to your powergrid.

[Mr Moo]

I always build with stone walls and run my power conduits inside them. That way when I get a zzztt, it's not usually a major problem because stone walls don't catch fire. If your base was mined into sollid rock, you can do the same if you smooth the walls.

I also prefer it aesthetically, as I don't like seeing power conduits all over the place.

[AquaX]

Or if you got mad building skills, you just place 1 generator within 5-6 tiles to your major electrics and have them just directly connect to them. This saves steel and prevent the zzzt event.