Solar Capacitor

[Wuulfe]

Hi, I'm having issues with the Solar Capacitor. I keep checking active on the button but as soon as i close the menu and go back to it, its back onto the Off setting. How do I make it stay on? I'be got 15 large panels - granted I do have fuel in because it does keep turning off.

Literally the only thing I've got active is one Fridge and the Turrets on standby (only 6 of those)

[Midas]

You need to give it some time to build up a charge. There has to be at least enough power for it to register that there's energy before depleting it again. Sometimes its hard to get the system running if you've already connected power-draining devices to it. Power off or remove whatever is consume constant power, give it a few minutes until you can see that the battery has some charge in it, and then connect it.

[BlazeD]

Pick up the capacitor and re-place it.

[Wuulfe]

did that.. still doing it

[Midas]

Originally posted by Wuulfe:

did that.. still doing it

If you're playing single player, sleep next time you're able and see if it's running when you wake up again. The solar power can be finnicky with registering that it has and is gaining power.

Incidentally, where and how are your solar panels placed? They have rows of lights on either corner, the yellow ones tells you your average solar strength throughout the day, and the green ones shows how much it's currently generating. If you're getting 1 or nothing, you're not getting enough sunlight.

[Wuulfe]

there's green light across the board and its on a multiplayer server.. 4 on some, 3 on others

[rictraldi]

I'm also having the same problem, I can't get my solar panels to work at all, two days of direct sunlight and the green leds and nothing on the capacitor works, I activate it and when I leave the menu it is on when I come back it turned off and nothing to load, I already have days and does not work.

[Wuulfe]

Solar capacitors are really touchy. Half the time they don’t turn on and stay on. Other times they just refuse to turn on. I’ve had times where the active/disable button doesn’t even work. Very frustrating. Takes like 5-6 removal/replacements to turn on in some situations. Even then it could turn off again at any point....

[Intabus]

Green lights are your potential efficiency throughout the entire day, Yellow is what its current efficiency is. If there are no, or only 1 yellow and the sun is up then you may need to rethink your placement. Remember sun rises in East and sets in West, and it paths over the equator of the planet.

[Wisp Cat]

One thing you can try is making a control panel control for the group which contains your solar capacitor.

[themikewilson]

I have the same problem. Solar power systems at three bases that worked fine and totally quit working two days ago. If I manually switch them on they turn off by themselves in 3 or 4 seconds.

[Hugh de Salle]

Not sure if this will work but having more than one Solar Capacitor can double your output , I never use it personally i always found it never generated enough to even run the base with the bare minimum.

If you have 14 panels try using 2 Capacitors instead of one just a thought.

[76561198813445917]

AS VERY FIRST
The distance to the sun is what defines how much solar output your 15 Panels have.
Starterplanets are most time so far away that you can forget Solar energy as a serious element !
Most Starterworlds have 0.1- 0.3 Kpu output. During a space station near the sun (arround 1-2 Au away from sun) have 16 .2 Kpu

2: Your panels must aim in the right direction

3: The amount of Batteries aka Capacitators defines how much energy is stored and How much is available at a time, for example a teleporter need 3 or 4.

[Carbonmutant]

I'm having that same problem.
What's the point of a solar capacitor if you can't get it to turn on?

[Wuulfe]

i've removed it and placed it.. sometimes it kicks in

[Balthazaar]

Originally posted by Wuulfe:

i've removed it and placed it.. sometimes it kicks in

Turrets consume a lot of power, even when not shooting things. I turn turrets off, unless incoming base attack.

Also, turn off constructors not being used and food processor.

If just your fridge and grow light on, then go explore for a few days, and when you get back, there will be a charge on capacitor. Game will use capacitor power till empty, before switching to generator.

Although, it sounds like your ready for a generator powered base anyways,

Good luck