Is Coal Generator that easy to use?

[Zé-do-aço]

So, I just unlocked coal generators, at first, it was hell on earth to implement in my factory and to discovery the fluid system by myself.
But as I was close to finish, I realise that the generator itself dind't use a lot of resourses, so I just continued on making more and more.
Now I have at least 6 of them, no Biofuel generators, and my factory use at least 320Mw. Still, I can built more coal generators no problem.
It's only me having such a easy time like that? Or is just my dumb early game presumption ?

[Electy Zoned Daltic]

It is real easy to use. But depending on the starting location it might not be so easy. You need a coal node and water source, if you only get 1 impure coal node you don't have a lot of coal coming in. Then in a bit you'll also need coal for other products. It becomes a balance of needing power or coal. As you expand your automation you need more power as well.

[The Big Brzezinski]

For my money, it's been a lot easier trucking coal to water than piping water to coal.

[Aeekto]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Bcfroes09:

So, I just unlocked coal generators, at first, it was hell on earth to implement in my factory and to discovery the fluid system by myself.
But as I was close to finish, I realise that the generator itself dind't use a lot of resourses, so I just continued on making more and more.
Now I have at least 6 of them, no Biofuel generators, and my factory use at least 320Mw. Still, I can built more coal generators no problem.
It's only me having such a easy time like that? Or is just my dumb early game presumption ?

It starts easy, but turns out more complicated later.
Once you need more than 300m³ water you have to add more than one pipe and the right spot so every powerplant gets enough water.
And 6 powerplants isn't much... you need a lot more later (my newest playthrough just hit steel and i already need 10 powerplants because of the huge amount of productionlines^^)

[BJ72]

They are easy to use. but they can be a bit tricky to set up, especially with the water. I use 2 water extractor at 100% and one at 50%. it fits more or less fits a pipe with 300 M3 (can run 25%) which fits 6 generator. Each generator uses 15 coal / min.
I just made the number 4 powerplant with mk5 coal belt And 52 generators.

[Sarah Miu]

My suggest? Find a spot with 2 coal mines, then build a massive 14 coal generator engine. I am using 3 mines of coal and I have 1 200 energy avalaible, consuming 300 atm. Is really easy and funny to build.

[[TE] Kuraudo]

I've heard that the trains you unlock at later tiers allow fluid transport: depending on the amount of train cars and fluid hookups you can add to one station and the amount of fluid containers required to keep a plant running near capacity between deliveries might make coal power much more interesting (read harder and complex therefore fun) to setup, especially if every base you make is self powered.

[Evilsod]

I had a pure coal source directly next to my base, but my closest patch of water only had enough space for a single Extractor and was about 1km away.
(it also turned out later when I unlocked Steel, that the patch of water I found had a pure coal node about 50m away on top of a cliff...)

I piped the water to the coal generators, but in hindsight, that was a mistake. With max overclock, your generators take in 90 m3 water, so you can run 3 generators from one pipe, but a single pure coal source can easily provide enough coal for 4 on Mk I alone, even without overclocks.
Piping water has the issues with head if you start taking it uphill, whereas your conveyors can transfer a lot more without any complexity.

I've now got an offsite coal generator going about 2000m away with 4x normal nodes, right next to a lovely lake in a valley. Easily scaled up to large numbers of generators and a single power cable leading back to the main HUB.

[War Wizard Grymzst]

As you increase the amount of power needed, you increase the amount of resource used per "tick". not building your power correctly will result in running out of water and/or coal. Furthermore, to prevent having to reprime your coal powers water source input, build a separate set of generators which ONLY run the water pumps, booster pumps, and (if you are feeling extra cautious) you can put your coal node on the same isolated line as well. My current factory has 1 coal node, something like 20 water pumps, over a dozen booster pumps all on 7 isolated generators. having to reprime your coal power for water is a pain in the butt.

[Xilo The Odd]

near the 3rd starting location i found a nice little valley with like 4 or 5 coal veins, and a big pond. for me it was just learning how pipes worked. once i figured that out it was as simple as setting up a delivery line to the coal gens from my coal lines.

but i suppose if you find your coal out in the middle of nowhere, you still need water piped to it and will have to build a pipeline from the nearest water source.

i havn't gotten too far but speaking of fluids, they do storage tanks for fluids?

[Evilsod]

Oprindeligt skrevet af GreenBeret63Echo:

As you increase the amount of power needed, you increase the amount of resource used per "tick". not building your power correctly will result in running out of water and/or coal. Furthermore, to prevent having to reprime your coal powers water source input, build a separate set of generators which ONLY run the water pumps, booster pumps, and (if you are feeling extra cautious) you can put your coal node on the same isolated line as well. My current factory has 1 coal node, something like 20 water pumps, over a dozen booster pumps all on 7 isolated generators. having to reprime your coal power for water is a pain in the butt.

Sounds like your power grid is at fault, not the pumps.

It dawned on me that with my reliance on a water extractor far away to supply my 3 base generators with power, my spaghetti power lines were causing me issues if it ever broke.

In my factory redesign, I've made it so coal and water has its own dedicated power line and the rest of my base is is powered through a single connection off said generators. In an emergency, I can disconnect my entire factory, and if I've somehow also run out of water in the system, I can drop down a quick biomass generator to power it.

[Knightframe]

Build the coal plants on water (or very near), so you wont have a water pressure issues. As for coal, just bring it to the plant. And use the best belts you have.

If you start to overcharge them, the coal will come in to slow.

To kickstart the waterpump, just use biomass generators and once coal is running, simply give the power from coal plant.

Once you build more (you should!!!!), simply move the power from coal plant to pump.

(DO NOT USE THIS POWER ON PRODUCTION -- second coal will take care of it)

[tulle040657]

I messed up on my first try at coal power, I tried to run 8 plants off of one water pipe, doh!

[DaBa]

Even if it was really hard and took a really long time to set up, you don't have any other options anyway. You can't keep using Biofuel, unless you want to devote insane amounts of time gathering it. You need to use coal.

[drac_mike]

Got lucky Had 3 coal resources next to large lake less than 2k from main base. :)