Solar vs Steam Engines?

[BustedHipGaming]

How many of these solar layouts does it take to equal the power output of one 1/14/10 block of pump/boiler/steam engine?

http://guide.factorio.com/img/98.jpg

[Mazian]

Research

https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Solar_Panel
https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Steam_engine

8 16 solar panels x 60 kW
1 steam engines x 510 kW

Math

(10se*510kW)/(8 16sp*60kW) = Answer

Profit

[BustedHipGaming]

One block like that pic has 16 panels, not 8. So, let's see...960 kW per block, and 10 steam engines would be 5,100 kW.

Grabs calc.exe: 5.3 blocks like that pic = 1 string of 10 steam engines.

I guess solar is not very efficient. Plus, the capacitors drain pretty quickly at night. Time for another question.

[Mazian]

You only asked about Solar Panels vs Steam-- you didn't mention calculating Accumulator ratios.

At night, Steam produces power, Solar does not. And the magic ratio for Accumulators:Solar Panels is 0.84:1

https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Power_production/Optimal_ratios

Calculating the ratio of Accumulators+Panels to Steam is really 510/60 to get Panels, and then *0.84 to get Accumulators (for equal power output).

Originally posted by drewbicus:

... I guess solar is not very efficient. ...

Even without the answer; and even with the correction of 8 panels to 16; you've still arrived at the correct conclusion regarding Solar.

It's not very efficient. The primary value of Solar+Accumulators is that it produces lower-over-all pollution (especially over a long time period.)

[BustedHipGaming]

I figured out the exact ratio - it's 17 panels = 2 steam engines. Ugh.