Automated Boilers

[Redcloth]

Hey everyone, I'm relatively new here so sorry if this is super easy and I'm just missing it.... but how do you get an Inserter to put coal/wood into a boiler so that it always runs? My boiler is pretty darn far from my base and I'd rather not have to deal with running back out here whenever the power goes out.

[Phoenix]

An inserter should just put wood/coal in the boiler.

[Orion]

Coal field ---> miner (coal powered or electric) ----> inserter ----> belt that goes to what you need to supply ----> inserter (coal variant prefered) ----> boiler. Is about as simple as I can put it.

You'll have to figure out a way to defend the boilers \ supply belt(s) as well (if you have biters enabled).

KatherineOfSky and Arumba on youtube have some good tutorials (both in the basic basic category and the big insane build category). There are probably loads more, but those two came to mind first. :)

[Redcloth]

Originally posted by Orion:

Coal field ---> miner (coal powered or electric) ----> inserter ----> belt that goes to what you need to supply ----> inserter (coal variant prefered) ----> boiler. Is about as simple as I can put it.

You'll have to figure out a way to defend the boilers \ supply belt(s) as well (if you have biters enabled).

KatherineOfSky and Arumba on youtube have some good tutorials (both in the basic basic category and the big insane build category). There are probably loads more, but those two came to mind first. :)

I tried something this simple but for some reason my inserter just failed to put the items in? Can they not pull from a box into the boiler?

[Orion]

Originally posted by Redcloth:

I tried something this simple but for some reason my inserter just failed to put the items in? Can they not pull from a box into the boiler?

They can, but for coal inserters they do require coal (when you first place them they have enough internal energy to do a couple of transfers, usually if supplied correctly (coal in a box\belt) the first thing they do is to refuel themselves.

I've not tested if the boiler has a specific insertion point, but I don't think it does. Could you do a screenshot (f12 default for steam) of your inserter\boiler setup?

[Redcloth]

Originally posted by Orion:

Originally posted by Redcloth:

I tried something this simple but for some reason my inserter just failed to put the items in? Can they not pull from a box into the boiler?

They can, but for coal inserters they do require coal (when you first place them they have enough internal energy to do a couple of transfers, usually if supplied correctly (coal in a box\belt) the first thing they do is to refuel themselves.

I've not tested if the boiler has a specific insertion point, but I don't think it does. Could you do a screenshot (f12 default for steam) of your inserter\boiler setup?

I'll have to do that tomorrow. I just saw the time and realized I should probably sleep XD

[Orion]

Fair enough. Threw together a really quick and dirty vid on it.

Basically doing what I detailed in my first post. (miner -> inserter -> belt -> inserter -> boiler.

A chest filled with coal will do the same job as the belt mind you, so that should not be an issue.

It does need to be hooked up to water and all that jazz as well, but I assume that you already have that setup.

https://youtu.be/yer4BmrHM_s

EDIT: The resolution is pants if you play it via the steam forum for some reason. Open it in a browser for better viewing (no idea why it only gives me 360p here and 720p in the browser)

[Killcreek2]

You do not need an inserter between miner & belt ~ the miners can output directly onto a belt.

Miner > belt > inserter > boiler should work fine.

edit ~ here is a pic, showing the whole setup in action:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1316827420

Note that inserters will not completely fill crafting machines ~ they will only put in enough for a few crafts & then top it up as needed after that.

edit2 ~ ps: you can insert to/from any of the tiles covered by the crafting machine (so, any of the 2x3 boiler tiles is fine).

[Orion]

Originally posted by Killcreek2:

You do not need an inserter between miner & belt ~ the miners can output directly onto a belt.

Miner > belt > inserter > boiler should work fine.

edit ~ here is a pic, showing the whole setup in action:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1316827420

Note that inserters will not completely fill crafting machines ~ they will only put in enough for a few crafts & then top it up as needed after that.

edit2 ~ ps: you can insert to/from any of the tiles covered by the crafting machine (so, any of the 2x3 boiler tiles is fine).

Right, sorry. I'm just used to miner--chest-inserter. Guess I was a bit tired myself :P