solar power

[sawman]

How come the solar panels do not keep giving power after 500?
I thought it would keep charging till it is full.

[John Raeder]

How much extra power storage do you have?

[frillen]

Also remember that the BCU will stop producing power when 500 is reached, so if you got anything running that require more power than the solar panels are producing, it will not exceed 500 power.

[sawman]

1500 in power storage

[sawman]

to bad we dont have creeks and water wheels

[sawman]

well the solar panels should continue to fill the storage, it only makes sense.

[sawman]

WINDMILLS now thats a good one :)

[John Raeder]

I am hoping that a windmill will replace the solar panels, maybe a waterwheel with the addition of moving water.

[Malfiros]

Ever heard of the Baghdad Battery? It's an ancient technology utilizing a clay jar with copper, iron, and some kind of acidic liquid like wine, lemon, or vinegar to generate electricity! Scientists have reproduced this contraption and found that they actually work! Pretty cool stuff.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Battery

[frillen]

Originally posted by sawman:

well the solar panels should continue to fill the storage, it only makes sense.

And they do as long there's more ingoing power from the solar panels than outgoing(well, lights etc.)

[xlockeed]

You do know when the sun moves during the day the power moves. 0.07 at 100% Noon then less there after. And I hope you know that when the sun goes down they draw zero power, right? You will need 4+ fully upgraded solar panels to see the power actually fill quicker.

Base BCU pumps 0.33 till 500 power, mass to 100. Once you hit 500/100 it's all on the player to push the storage limits. That means if you have two panels and nothing eating power. You're only getting an average of say 0.04% per panel times two and that's only 0.14%. That is a fraction of 1%.

You also have to place the panels well away from walls, trees and shadows as they do impact the sun catch. Last you may have too many BCUs and they are conflicting for power storage.

[Zuleica]

Originally posted by sawman:

well the solar panels should continue to fill the storage, it only makes sense.

They do, no clue what's wrong for you but solar panels will charge up to the maximum power storage you have. On the other hand if you're using more during one day/night cycle than you're creating then it will always appear as though you never have more than 500 since when it falls below 500 the BCU will kick in, increase the total power generation above what you're using, charge to 500 at which point the BCU will shut off and the solar panels won't compensate for the drain. Make sure that WITHOUT the BCU you are generating more in an ingame day than you're using then you'll see it increase past 500.

[sawman]

well true and to be fair i only have up and only one is up graded but they should realy be charging alot more , i mean we have a laser forge man so wut up we have less pwoerfull solar chargers? hm lolshould be at least as good as what we use in RL. i live in alaska and i have used solar panels ANd made my own wind turbine bfor i used a opel cadet generate electric to charge batteries also. i was going to make a boiler to generate but decided to big of a foot print just to make juice. i mean thats alot of trees just to watch tv.. lol

[sawman]

durr only have 2 solar panels right now

[xlockeed]

Solar panels in game are there just to give a trickle nothing more. But that doesn't keep us from putting ten on our roof. The main meat is the recycler and generators in game. A stack of planks in the recycler gives the player 100 mass at cost of 200 power. With two generators and 4+ panels on roof it gets easier.

Right now it's better to make more panels then upgrading them. And I ment no offense about the sun catching part.

Originally posted by sawman:

well the solar panels should continue to fill the storage, it only makes sense.

They do, but like you said two panels is going to be slow as slow. Just make two more panels then do upgrades. You'll see the difference. On your main base BCU there should be two indicators. Power IN and Power Out. That should give you a better picture of your income.

[gpcstargate]

I have 8 solar panels .. fully upgraded and they work well .. but more is better if you run forge all day and have wellhead or refrig. going also