how to disable a generator when u dont need it running?

[sea jay]

im a dummy (40hrs) so, i was gessing powershutoffs are suposed to shutoff power right, but i cant figure how they work for example, i tried a manual switch connected to a coal gen so i could turn it off when i dont need it without having to send a duplicant all the way down where it is, dont work.

now im experimenting with automation in sandbx but cant figure it
so me guessing is if u want to turn the gen off, a dupe has to go there to disable it?

[Battleseed]

Smart battery connected to the gen via automation wire. Set the battery to control when the gen runs.

[Bokonon]

Hook the generator to a smart battery, connect them also with automation wire, smart battery has 2 sliders one is for when to turn red (will disable the generator) and the other is for when it turns green again (will enable the generator). Be aware that disabled generators do not generate errands, this means no dupes will fill them (coal/wood) unless they're enabled. Some people have problems with this, most do not. Coal generator for example has a slider, the higher the slider the sooner it will be refilled, play with this and the sliders on the smart battery and you should find settings that fit your needs.

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by Battleseed:

Smart battery connected to the gen via automation wire. Set the battery to control when the gen runs.

exactly this. it'll reduce your fuel consumption and waste overall a ton. only need 1 smart battery as well though, smart battery over jumbo means overall you dont lose as much created power either.

then hit your generators with the power station to make tuning chips to reduce fuel consumption even further. this does cost processed metal though.

[Mykepatch]

If you want to control it directly without needing a duplicant or through a battery, for whatever reason, you can connect it to any sensor. Atmo sensor for instance, you just have to change from superior to inferior or vice versa so control your gen when YOU need it and immediately.

Just to say it, don't know if it can have any interesting usage with a gen.

[Shame]

For manual control on YOUR side, use clock sensor. It requires no duplicant operation and you can use it as an on/off switch whenever you need to by turning the active time between 100% and 0%. But I do recommend smart batteries if you would rather have it automated, it really saves power and fuel in the long run.

[Bokonon]

Originally posted by Shame:

For manual control on YOUR side, use clock sensor. It requires no duplicant operation and you can use it as an on/off switch whenever you need to by turning the active time between 100% and 0%. But I do recommend smart batteries if you would rather have it automated, it really saves power and fuel in the long run.

I've got almost 800 hours and have yet to build a clock sensor. Any sensor will work, I usually use an atmo sensor but sometimes use hydro or even thermo. Clicking above/below or changing the slider requires no dupe interaction.

[madcow]

Originally posted by Bokonon:

Originally posted by Shame:

For manual control on YOUR side, use clock sensor. It requires no duplicant operation and you can use it as an on/off switch whenever you need to by turning the active time between 100% and 0%. But I do recommend smart batteries if you would rather have it automated, it really saves power and fuel in the long run.

I've got almost 800 hours and have yet to build a clock sensor. Any sensor will work, I usually use an atmo sensor but sometimes use hydro or even thermo. Clicking above/below or changing the slider requires no dupe interaction.

Yeah, a clock sensor is the choice that makes the least amount of sense of all the automation choices for something you want to turn on\off without a Dupe.

I do however use clock sensors for things like incubators where I want to get the full bonus of the building without running the power-hungry equipment all day long.

[Maireen]

why use a clock that you have to always slide the bar when you can easily just click above/below with other sensors

[Emmote]

To be fair - if you're using clock sensors or anything else to manually turn things on and off in your base enough where the difference on which one you're using matters - you're doing something wrong.

[sea jay]

atmo sensors work very well guess u just plug the gen to a automation grid and send green/red sig, my tought process was u needed to connect a power shutoff to the automation grid and then a wire to the gen for it to turn of but no, thanks

[SlavonBlue]

The power shutoff is used to cut power from a source to specific consumers. It doesn't affect the source at all. Automation is what you're after if you don't want your generators running all the time.

[Xilo The Odd]

Originally posted by Blue101:

The power shutoff is used to cut power from a source to specific consumers. It doesn't affect the source at all. Automation is what you're after if you don't want your generators running all the time.

yeah i havnt found use for shutoffs myself. but then again as many hours as i've put in and as many maps i've thrown out, this is the first time i hit oil on one and want to take a crack at it.

need to get a good cooling loop made first though. and i want to cook that oil into petrol rather than process it. dont mind processing it but from what i gather, heating it and having a proper cooling system down the line is far better.