How do I hook up a accumulator to a power grid?

[JackAttack87]

I know it is a stupid question but I just can't seem to figure it out.

[KatherineOfSky]

Put it within range of a power pole.

[Jupiter3927]

Connect them to your power grid like any other building and they'll gather a charge off any surplus energy.

[JackAttack87]

Thanks.

[mjrudolphi]

If they arent charging does that mean you dont have any excess? I dont have any power issues but my accumulator is not charging and I dont know why.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by mjrudolphi:

If they arent charging does that mean you dont have any excess? I dont have any power issues but my accumulator is not charging and I dont know why.

That is correct. If they are within the same power network as the rest of your base, accumulators will charge off of all excess power made. You may be running at 99% power, not full, so are actually in a deficit. Point at a power pole and look in the description pane to the right. If that bar is not completely full and green, then you are actually making less power than all your machines need.

Your accumulator is under a power pole, and that pole is connected to the rest of your base.... right?

[Mist of Majora]

I have a related question to this thread - is there a way to take the power from accumulators before accessing the power grid? I have accumulators positioned between my factory and the laser turrets, but I just read that the accumulators only discharge when my power grid needs more than it can handle. I'm trying to normalize the crazy fluctuations in my power grid due to laser turrets (I have a solid nuclear power setup, but I don't like over-exerting it so much when there's multiple attacks)

I'm including a picture below of the accumulator junction between my factory and laser turrets for the author's benefit too

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1645971524

[Warlord]

Originally posted by Mist of Majora:

I have a related question to this thread - is there a way to take the power from accumulators before accessing the power grid? I have accumulators positioned between my factory and the laser turrets, but I just read that the accumulators only discharge when my power grid needs more than it can handle. I'm trying to normalize the crazy fluctuations in my power grid due to laser turrets (I have a solid nuclear power setup, but I don't like over-exerting it so much when there's multiple attacks)

I'm including a picture below of the accumulator junction between my factory and laser turrets for the author's benefit too

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1645971524

All power producers (solar, steam, nuclear) can instantly scale up to 100% production on demand, so big surges from laser attacks won't be an issue *IF* you are overproducing enough power to handle it during the attack.

However, if you don't have the extra capacity to power turrets firing while under attack, that is where accumulators shine. They will instantly kick in once all your power buildings max themselves out. If they aren't enough, accumulators will automatically discharge to take up the slack.

[mjrudolphi]

Originally posted by Warlord:

Originally posted by mjrudolphi:

If they arent charging does that mean you dont have any excess? I dont have any power issues but my accumulator is not charging and I dont know why.

That is correct. If they are within the same power network as the rest of your base, accumulators will charge off of all excess power made. You may be running at 99% power, not full, so are actually in a deficit. Point at a power pole and look in the description pane to the right. If that bar is not completely full and green, then you are actually making less power than all your machines need.

Your accumulator is under a power pole, and that pole is connected to the rest of your base.... right?

Power poles show all green. One thing that might be the issue is machines within the area of the accumulator. If they are drawing from the accumulator then perhaps it never has a chance to charge.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by mjrudolphi:

Originally posted by Warlord:

That is correct. If they are within the same power network as the rest of your base, accumulators will charge off of all excess power made. You may be running at 99% power, not full, so are actually in a deficit. Point at a power pole and look in the description pane to the right. If that bar is not completely full and green, then you are actually making less power than all your machines need.

Your accumulator is under a power pole, and that pole is connected to the rest of your base.... right?

Power poles show all green. One thing that might be the issue is machines within the area of the accumulator. If they are drawing from the accumulator then perhaps it never has a chance to charge.

No, as long as the accumulators are in a pole that is also connected to the rest of the grid, it doesn't matter if there is a turret next to the accumulator or an inserter. Machines do not pull power from local sources. The game simply lumps all power producers into one pool and takes from them all evenly.

Is the accumulator sparking sligthly? Or is it stable with no visible power arcs? Maybe it's charging, but at such a slow rate because you have such a tiny excess of power that it can't charge fast enough. Show us a screenshot of you pointing at the power pole the accum is under.

[mjrudolphi]

Originally posted by Warlord:

No, as long as the accumulators are in a pole that is also connected to the rest of the grid, it doesn't matter if there is a turret next to the accumulator or an inserter. Machines do not pull power from local sources. The game simply lumps all power producers into one pool and takes from them all evenly.

Then that just leaves power production. If the poles show green most of the time but go yellow when lasers fire, will that drain the accumulator? How much extra power do you need to produce before the accumulator will charge then?

[mjrudolphi]

Originally posted by Warlord:

Is the accumulator sparking sligthly? Or is it stable with no visible power arcs? Maybe it's charging, but at such a slow rate because you have such a tiny excess of power that it can't charge fast enough. Show us a screenshot of you pointing at the power pole the accum is under.

No sparking or power arcs. Its sitting right next to a power pole which is also powering other things.

[Warlord]

Originally posted by mjrudolphi:

Originally posted by Warlord:

Is the accumulator sparking sligthly? Or is it stable with no visible power arcs? Maybe it's charging, but at such a slow rate because you have such a tiny excess of power that it can't charge fast enough. Show us a screenshot of you pointing at the power pole the accum is under.

No sparking or power arcs. Its sitting right next to a power pole which is also powering other things.

Odd, it should charge then. For an accumulator to charge, you have to simply have more power than you are consuming. If you are (capable of) producing one microwatt more than your machines are demanding, that microwatt will go into an accumulator.

Does the accumulator have a full green bar, or empty black one? If it's full, then it won't charge. Maybe you have such an excess that the accumulator is fully charged already, and you have no demand for it's stored power because of excess power from steam.

A screenshot of your power grid (click on a power pole) can help here.

[walter]

You power bar should never go yellow - if it does it means that even the accumulators cant provide enough extra power to satisfy demand.

When your accumulator are not fully charged (and you can see wether they are, its the third bar in the grid window) they draw power from the grid just like anything else.
If they are fully charged they wait until your normal power production is not enough to satisfy demand - then they will provide power and their charge will decrease according to the power used.

As soon as your normal power production is enough again, they will start draining power once mor eu ntil they are again fully charged.

My guess is that you are not producing enough power, hence your accumulators can barely charge up and thus have nothing to contribute when you have a spike in power demand.

Again, you can see if your accumulators are currently charging or providing power - are they listed under consumption or are they listed under production (abnd their bar is not empty), just check the grid window.

[mjrudolphi]

screen shot of accumulator panel

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1646379607

Shot of the accumulator and the electric pole next to it
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1646379583

[Nailfoot]

Originally posted by mjrudolphi:

screen shot of accumulator panel

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1646379607

Shot of the accumulator and the electric pole next to it
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1646379583

Your second screenshot doesn't work.

However, the first screenshot indicates there are ZERO accumulators as part of the electric network. If even 1 accumulator is connected to the grid, it will show over on the right where the steam generators are showing. Even if it is empty, it will be listed there.

Check for:

1. Power wire actually connected to the accumulator (Pick it up and replace it)
2. Accumulator on the same power grid as your steam generators