Smart Batteries bugged?

[Animecore]

(NO MODS USED)
Shouldn't a smart battery become deactivated when its threshold is low?

The description in my game is that they send out a red signal to stop working the higher their threshold. To me, that does not make any sense; they should send out a red signal when they are low on power. "So if you're saying that, that's right!" Well, the green threshold bar below the red threshold bar cannot be adjusted above the red signal threshold bar. It's very annoying because I am trying to find a simple guide for new players such as myself on YouTube about just using smart batteries and other things like a fertilizer synthesizer.

Everyone's guide on YouTube shows these monsterious underground bases created and nothing like a basic setup that shows the very basics of a procedure to be implemented.

[gtgiygus]

So a red signal is neither "activate" or "deactivate", it is just a color. What the smart battery does is send that color when the threshold (that you set) is reached with an automation wire. What the two colors (green and red) do to any machine is different depending on the machine itself, not the smart battery. Just keep in mind as you play that some machines will use those two colors in odd ways sometimes. You may need to use automation buildings like "NOT" gates to switch the colors around, since some machines need Green to turn off, or vise versa.

However, most (if not all) power producing machines turn off when they receive a red signal. So what the smart battery is doing is sending a red signal (which turns off the generator) when the battery hits your threshold . When the power level of the battery goes below your threshold, the red signal goes away. The lack of signal makes the generator go back on. A very simple set up made to be used early in the game, but it may not make sense when you first encounter it.

Why can you set a threshold at all? In this case, the ability to turn one type of generator on before another type, in case you want to use one type of fuel first.

For example, you can have Petroleum Generators set to 50%, but Coal generators set to 25%. That why the Coal will only turn on if the Petrol can't keep up, and will turn off first once you do get caught up. This works best when both types of generators are on the same system, but you get the idea.

[Bobucles]

By default, smart batteries are ready to plug into power generators. They activate the generator until the high threshold is hit, turn the generator off, and wait until the low threshold to do it over again.

This can be used to set energy priority. Generally you want every generator active but enable the high priority generators the fastest.

[Animecore]

I plugged the smart battery up to a coal-burning generator on its own network, but I also wanted a fertilizer synthesizer on it as well.

I only hooked up automation wires to the coal generator and smart battery. The rock crusher did not like being part of the automation, but the fertilizer synthesizer in its description has to be part of the automation wire. It's really confusing.

The smart battery just seems extremely bugged, and the two bars to set the thresholds do not seem to be working correctly. I tried setting the bars to 0 to 100 to 90 to 25%, etc. Nothing works. The smart battery only kicks on when the smart battery is at 100%. I really hate the smart battery but I don't want my dupes running on wheels all the time.

[Animecore]

If it's not bugged, what am I doing wrong? I have to put both thresholds at 100, and it kicks on and turns off instantly. The smart battery will not work unless its 100 percent on both thresholds. I'm telling you it seems bugged. I am not using the DLC. I have the DLC but I deactivated because it was too much for me being new to the game. I've thought about deconstructing everything, but I really need the rock crusher at this point for refined metal to do anything. It's just very annoying. Sadly, I do not want to get annoyed. I'm asking for help here. I would travel to YouTube, but I mentioned that the guides I am finding are not short, sweet, or to the point. I would say 100% of YouTube guides on just one part you want to use are people with expanded bases already built into everything and are 48 minutes long, when it's just a simple question on one part you want to know about, like how to use a smart battery with a fertilizer system. Space engineers and astronauts have way better guides than community members. I am not trying to piss anyone off, but there is no tutorial for just one piece of equipment you want to use without someone trying to show you some elaborate setup.

[Animecore]

What do I mean by elaborate setup? Look at this guy's guide on Youtube on Feritlizer synthesizers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ9Sbh35EO8 7 minutes long, but he's got like this entire base built already, and God bless the guy, but I really wish we had better guides on each equipment piece. I'm telling you that Astroneer,  Space Engineer, and even Rimworld and other automation games have really good guides. Please tell me you know someone who makes clear and precise guides for this game. I really could use the help!

[Ozzey_Lee]

A simple way to look at them is when do you want your power producers on, and when do you want them to cut off.

For example:

I want my generators to turn on when my battery reaches 50%

I want my generators to turn off when my battery reaches 75%



In order to have the batteries send the correct signals I will set the lower threshold (aka green) to 50%.
I will set the high threshold (aka red) to 75%.

(Combine The Two)

{Low Threshold/ Green}
I want my generators to turn on when my battery reaches 50%
(until it reaches 75%)

{High Threshold/ Red}
I want my generators to turn off when my battery reaches 75%
(until it reaches 50%)

This will then cause the battery to send a GREEN SIGNAL (to my generators or whatever) until the battery hits 75%. Once the battery hits 75% it will send a RED SIGNAL until it's at 50% at which point the battery will be allowed to send a green signal again.



If your battery sends a GREEN SIGNAL at 50% it will not be able to send a RED SIGNAL until it gets to 75%. {Low Threshold/ Green} from 50% to 75%.


If your battery sends a RED SIGNAL at 75% it will not be able to send a GREEN SIGNAL until it gets to 50%. {High Threshold/ Red} from 75% to 50%.



The battery is basically going to play ping pong/tennis with it's signals in between the thresholds you set up. If it's on the High Threshold side of the court it will be RED until it is bounced over to the Low Threshold side where it will be GREEN.

How long it takes the ball to move (signals to change) is based on how much power is being
produced (GREEN -> RED) and
consumed (GREEN <- RED)

75% of 20kj is 15kj

50% of 20kj is 10kj

1
Battery sends RED SIGNAL up until just before it drops below 50% (10kj in screenshot)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055268794
2
Battery sends GREEN SIGNAL as soon as it goes below 50% (9.8kj in screenshot)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055269663
3
Battery sends GREEN SIGNAL up until just before it reaches 75% (14.9kj in screenshot)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055269977
4
Battery sends RED SIGNAL as soon as it goes at or above 75% (15kj in screenshot)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055270137

1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1... is the order it's going to stay in forever.
You will also notice the smart battery below has the exact same thresholds as the above going through a not gate which you can use to turn off devices should you want to allow the battery to fill without power consumers draining it. I used a different battery because that battery had different thresholds but for this example they are the same.

[robotnikkkk]

Originally posted by Animecore:

(NO MODS USED)
Shouldn't a smart battery become deactivated when its threshold is low?

=IN ACTUAL, IT ONLY INFLICTS ABOUT WHAT SIGNAL DOES IT SEND, WHICH SEPARATES IT FROM JUMBO BATTERY, THO

.............. AND............. THEY'RE BEEN USED TO SAVE UP SOME RESOURCES THAT ARE BEEN USED AT ENERGY PRODUCTION , RIGHT???????????

=AND YEAH, IT'S BETTER TO NOT DISABLE THEM BC OF THEY'RE LOSING CHARGE OVER TIME SO MAY NOT TO SWITCH ON, OK????

............. AND....... ANOTHER THING!!!!!!.......... ABOUT...... U SHOULD VE BEEN USING ONLY SMART BATTERIES!!!!! ........... KNOW WHY????.......... BC OF BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES CANNOT WORK AT SYNERGY , SO IT'S LIKE JUMBO BATTERIES WILL BE AT 100%, BUT SMART ONES AT 10%,AND VICE VERSA........... ANNOYING?????--- YES

........... SO I EVEN MADE A SETUP LIKE THIS =!!!!!!!!!!!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3055416208

........ KNOW WHY???????........ BC OF TO INCREASE THE WORTH OF 1%!!!!!!!!!!........ SO THE CRARGE WOULD VE DROP SO SMOOTHLY, SO THE LOAD WOULDNT AFFECT ............ ABOUT.... TO ENSURE THAT ONLY 1 GENERATOR WILL SWITCH ON IF THE LOAD FOR 1

Originally posted by Animecore:

Everyone's guide on YouTube shows these monsterious underground bases created and nothing like a basic setup that shows the very basics of a procedure to be implemented.

................. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GETTING ALONG WITH THESE NERDS BC OF THEY CANNOT HELP PROPERLY TO NORMAL PEOPLE!!!!!!

[robotnikkkk]

Originally posted by Animecore:

If it's not bugged, what am I doing wrong? I have to put both thresholds at 100, and it kicks on and turns off instantly.

=AHHH YESSS-- U SHOULDNT DO LIKE THAT , IT'S CALLED "HYSTERIA".......... THE STATE U'VE PUT BATTERIES INTO

.............. SO, U'RE BETTER TO DO LIKE....................... FIGURING OUT BY YOURSELF!!!...... OF COURSE!!!!!!!

.......... SO, FIRST OF ALL, CONSIDER ALL FUEL AS ENERGY!!!!!!!!!!


................ OF COURSE, THAT DOES RELATE TO OTHER THINGS BESIDES COAL GENERATORS............ LIKE HOW TO TURN ANY GENERATOR INTO A COAL GENERATOR!!!!!! , HEHE

.......... SO, ENSURE THAT UPPER TRESHOLD ISNT AT 100%!!!!!! .......... OK???..... BC OF YOU'LL BE HAVING RENEWABLES YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL!!!!! , SO A GAP FOR THEM........... I'M DOING LIKE 95% OR MAYBE 90%.......... SO BATTERY WILL SEND RED SIGNAL WHEN IT'LL GET TO 90%, RIGHT??????

............. AND......... !!!!!! ........... LOWER TRESHOLD =!!!!!.......... YOU SET THIS INDIVIDUALLY!!! ........... GOT IT????...... LIKE U WANT TO MAKE A "STAIRCASE" , RIGHT????............. LIKE 1 GENERATOR TO SWITCH AT 90%, AND IF LOAD WILL GET TOO MUCH, ANOTHER SMART BATTERY THAT WAS SET ON 85%, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL SWITCH THE SECOND GENERATOR............... AND ETC ETC ETC............. OK???????

=AND YEAHHH...... IT'S FOR HYDROGEN/NATURAL GAS/PETROL GENERATORS!!! .............. SO IF U DONT STILL HAVE THEM, THEN DONT BOTHER, BUT U'RE BETTER!!!!!!............ BC COAL RUNS OUT QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!! .............. SO PLZZZZZZ TRY TO MAKE SOME HYDRA LIKE THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFKpqzFJaSA

=ANDDDDD......... COOLING SYSTEM............... U'LL FIGURE, I HOPE??????

[Bobucles]

Uhh, don't plug your working machine into automation wire. Automation is used to disable the station, and thus kick dupes off the job.

[XceptOne]

Others, especially Ozzey_Lee, have provided good examples and explanations on how the Smart Battery is meant to be used with power generators. I'll reiterate some of that, though.

As for youtube guides, I don't really watch videos, so I can only tell you what other have said over time. The community seems to be very fond of tutorials/explanations made by Francis John, so I'd recommend to look for videos from him. (I have no idea, though, if there are tutorials for single buildings like the fertilizer synthesizer)

Originally posted by Animecore:

(NO MODS USED)
Shouldn't a smart battery become deactivated when its threshold is low?

The description in my game is that they send out a red signal to stop working the higher their threshold. To me, that does not make any sense; they should send out a red signal when they are low on power. "So if you're saying that, that's right!" Well, the green threshold bar below the red threshold bar cannot be adjusted above the red signal threshold bar.

Originally posted by Animecore:

If it's not bugged, what am I doing wrong? I have to put both thresholds at 100, and it kicks on and turns off instantly. The smart battery will not work unless its 100 percent on both thresholds. I'm telling you it seems bugged.

Firstly, just in case you thought so, the smart battery does not deactivate itself. It is always working and cannot be deactivated. The automation port is strictly meant to provide signals to other machines, not the battery itself.
Like all batteries, it will charge up if more power is produced than is consumed and will provide power while decharging if more power is consumed than is produced.


(Only talking about automation network in the following paragraphs, not power wires)
The automation port in the smart battery is strictly an output.
As you've noted it will send a red (inactive) signal when reaching its' high threshold (meaning the battery is sufficiently charged) and a green (active) signal when reaching its' low threshold (meaning the battery is empty or not sufficiently charged anymore).
This is NOT a bug. The reasoning is that smart batteries are meant to automate power generators (only). So when sufficiently charged the connected generators are turned off and cease power production.
Once the battery is empty enough(reaching low threshold) all connected generators will resume power production (via receiving a green signal) to charge up your batteries again.
Normally you will only connect a single smart battery with your generators (automation wires, you still connect everything via power wires) and leave other batteries' automation port empty.

You have already done this with your coal generator and should have noticed the above behavior.

The smart batteries automation output is not meant to automate other things like your rock crusher or the fertilizer synthesizer. You may find advanced or special uses where you might do this, but ignore such scenarios for now.

Furthermore, the types of generators to be automated this way are usually the ones requiring fuel like coal, petroleum, hydrogen or natural gas (hamster wheels will work well with them too, but this is seldomly used).

Any fueled generator automated in such way will only consume the exact amount of fuel needed to power your base and not more. This is the primary reason why you want to do this.

You can have multiple power plants, each controled by a different smart battery with different settings, all connected into the same power grid. This can be done to prioritize certain generators (fuel types) over others.

Originally posted by Animecore:

The smart battery just seems extremely bugged, and the two bars to set the thresholds do not seem to be working correctly. I tried setting the bars from 0 to 100 to 90 to 25%, etc. Nothing works. The smart battery only kicks on when the smart battery is at 100%. I really hate the smart battery but I don't want my dupes running on wheels all the time.

This is NOT a bug either.
In case you really want to switch the high and low thresholds, sending green when low and red when high, you simply connect the batteries automation port to the input of a NOT gate to invert the signal. So there is never a reason to put the low threshold above the high threshold (you use the NOT gate instead).
Please note that I cannot think of any normal scenario where you would want to do that.

Again, do not connect anything other than generators to the smart batteries automation port. You simply don't want to activate/deactivate things like a rock crusher/fertilizer synthesizer based on stored power.

Originally posted by Animecore:

...how to use a smart battery with a fertilizer system...

You don't, there is not much reason to do so. (If you really want to, you'll figure this out later, when things have cleared up. The only reason I can think of would be to not run certain machinery when low on power production, but this requires more advanced automation and lots of thinking. It would always be a custom build system specially designed for your base, conditions and requirements.)

Originally posted by Animecore:

How to use a fertilizer synthesizer?

Originally posted by Animecore:

but the fertilizer synthesizer in its description has to be part of the automation wire. It's really confusing.

Nothing in its' description suggests that it needs to be automated. It'll work fine without it. So just hook it up to power and input resources to start.

You usually would automate it, when you want to turn it off once you have enough fertilizer stored, so you don't accumulate much more fertilizer over time than you actually need.
The easiest way to do this is to place a Smart Storage Bin next to it and connect the bin and fertilizer sysnthesizer via automation wire. Then you set the Smart Storage Bin to Fertilizer and also set how much shall be stored before the synthesizer gets deactivated.
Freshly produced fertilizer will be delivered to the bin and once enough is stored the synthesizer will stop producing.
When the bins' contents fall below that mark again (because dupes have taken out some fertilizer to use it somewhere, like in farms or for rockets(in dlc)) the synthesizer will start working again to produce new fertilizer until the bin is sufficiently filled again.

Or you just hook a Signal Switch up to the synthesizer, which will allow you to manually control its' active/inactive state.

The described procedure will workd for most industrial building (depending on the output resource you may want to use gas/liquid reservoirs instead of smart storage bins, but the thought process is the same).
But often this is simply not necessary and you can use production buildings without any connected automation just fine.


If these explanations haven't been enough or didn't answer your questions, please feel free to ask more. But I would kindly ask you to explain what exactly you want to achieve, so more targeted help can be provided.

[POWER WITHIN USER]

I plugged the smart battery up to a coal-burning generator on its own network, but I also wanted a fertilizer synthesizer on it as well.

Uuse two different smart batteries, one connected to the generator, then another battery connected to a not gate and whatever power consumers you want to be turned on.
Though you're better off connecting several smart batteries to different generators, then power consumers turning on based off some other and better criteria (ie. excess liquid fuel, excess coal) but that can't be explained in a couple sentences.

[leandrombraz]

Originally posted by Animecore:

Please tell me you know someone who makes clear and precise guides for this game. I really could use the help!

https://www.youtube.com/@GCFungus

His educational Tutorial Bites series is really great and easy to follow. I doubt you'll find anything on fertilizer Synthesizer though, since there's nothing special about it that requires a guide to understand. It has natural gas as a byproduct, which is released directly on the environment, so you want to build it enclosed. In the video you linked, he's using some basic automation and solid shipping to feed the Synthesizer and take the fertilizer without dupes accessing that area. It's all really basic. What you need is to learn the basics on some specific things that you can use on a Synthesizer setup:

Liquid lock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYdHYKYcPQc

Solid shipping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9TH1wlgpaA

Automation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiqNbKiWqrk


You don't really NEED to use all that though. If you just build the Synthesizer on an enclosed area with a liquid lock for dupes to access it, then a pump to pump the natural gas wherever you want, you're set. It isn't the most efficient thing ever, but you're set.


As for smart batteries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M09gbwCCGt8