Solar Panels rotate ?

[Sticky Wicket]

The large Solar Panel design clearly has a pivot but it does not use it to track the sun, and I can't see any way to get it set it up to do this. I tried hooking it up to a deuterium generator just in case it needs another energy source to power the mechanism, but still no joy.

If you place 2 Solar panels 1 facing east, 1 facing west, you can ensure power all day from sunrise to sunset. Is this the only setup that works? you can't get 1 panel to follow the sun?

[entuland]

I don't have memory of the solar panels caring about their orientation or even caring whether they're in the shade of a build, you can try placing them both facing north (or south, depending on your latitude) so that they face _away_ from the sun and check if you get the same power.

[Nostromo]

They don't rotate (unfortunately).


Your setup isn't the only setup that works. But that's basically it. I usually put some facing both East and West, and then more facing either North or South (depending where I am in relation to the sun's path / equator).

Originally posted by entuland:

I don't have memory of the solar panels caring about their orientation or even caring whether they're in the shade of a build, you can try placing them both facing north (or south, depending on your latitude) so that they face _away_ from the sun and check if you get the same power.

I don't remember if they "care" if they're inside or in the shade - but direction does matter, and they will get different "percentages" of light (and thus, power) as the sun tracks across the sky. (Unlike, say, No Man's Sky, where they only need to be constructed but can be placed even underground and will work).

[Menzagitat]

Somebody in this thread found a solution :)
https://steamcommunity.com/app/504050/discussions/0/2949168661149486345/

There might be other solutions too, now after the latest updates.
Also some old solutions might not work anymore, because electricity links do not reconnect instantly, to to prevent lag in certain cases, where many printers start printing at same time.

[Sticky Wicket]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

I'm guessing the original idea was to develop those solar panels so that they tracked the sun with that hinge/pivot but it never happened.

Some inventive solutions already in that thread posted by Menz. This is what I always loved about PN.

[Andreas]

Solar panels don't care about shadow and will work inside.
While it is possible to build tracking solar power stations - and it's fun too! - I don't think it's worth it from an economical perspective. It's cheaper just to build more panels that face different directions.

It's also possible to have several of them rotate constantly, to even out power output of the whole system. That's easier than a tracking system and might provide some benefit - though I never actually tried to measure it. (Hm. Maybe I should. :))

[Menzagitat]

aRPeaR was also working on a solar dish project when he noticed that the last change with the electrical connections causes him problems
https://steamcommunity.com/app/504050/discussions/0/1644292549029298560/#c1658943116236114920
And my answer made no sense to anyone. :)
I wonder if he has so much fun with other games too.