keep blowing fuse

[andros half orc]

hey guys im at the beginning of the game, i have a smelter and 5 constructors hooked up (24mw) to a 20mw generator, i put one of the constructor on standby so i should be using 20mw but the fuse keeps blowing,


if i remove the power line to the the standby constructor the system runs fine. but if its connected and in standby it blows the fuse. am i missing something or do i need to completely remove the power line every if i have something im not running ATM


edit so im not sure why it was working when i removed a system maybe i didnt leave it long enough, however looking at the power graph it seems 4 devices runiing are at 16.2 MW not 16. thus 5 devices would put me just over 20mw

[Duke Dudeston]

I think machines still use a little bit of power while in standby? And I think even the power poles cause the power to fluctuate? again I am not an expert but its always good to have an overhead for your power needs.

1 more biomass burner will help in early game, and you shouldn't burn through a lot of fuel it only burns what it needs.

[TyCobb]

Power is only consumed when the machines are active (actually doing something). My guess is you don't actually have a machine on Standby. Go to a working one, click Stand by and then compare the power graph before and after. You'll see a 4MW drop in Consumption (if it was running) and 4MW drop in Max Consumption

[Maligner]

It only has to average above your 20mw threshold then the breaker pops. It might not in real life, but the way it's programmed fluctuation might just barely trigger it when it inadvertently calculates above the theoretical maximum draw and that number matches the output. There might be a microsecond before the generator eats another piece of fuel and the power dips un-noticeably for a few microseconds and that might do it.

Machines on standby should not use power at all. Poles should not use power.

Having said that, it's always just easier to leave a power buffer than deal with stupid issues that shouldn't be happening. The choice is yours.

[Crusader]

I believe they still use .1 when in standby. It is negligible for the most part, but enough to blow a fuse in your case.

[Maligner]

Originally posted by Crusader:

I believe they still use .1 when in standby. It is negligible for the most part, but enough to blow a fuse in your case.

Yes, this is confirmed and is your answer.

See screenshots. One constructor connected to one biogenerator. Constructor on standby. Finally, 0.1 power draw.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3330299282

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3330299297

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3330299317

For precise power control, disconnect power cables from machines you want to not draw power.

[RabidHobbit]

Originally posted by Maligner:

It only has to average above your 20mw threshold then the breaker pops.

In addition to the 0.1 power draw thingie, this also seems to be true. I've had a breaker pop, then I fix the issue well below the threshold, but it keeps popping when I turn it back on. Then I have to disconnect the power supply from the grid, turn it on and give it some time. Then reconnect subsections to the grid a bit at a time, then it's fine.

I actually don't mind this. It's more immersive that there are occasional hiccups in systems like this than if they always worked perfectly. Sometimes you just have to mess with something to get it work, even when the math says it should work perfectly (talking about real life, here).

[Earth Defence Force!]

Originally posted by andros half orc:

hey guys im at the beginning of the game, i have a smelter and 5 constructors hooked up (24mw) to a 20mw generator, i put one of the constructor on standby so i should be using 20mw but the fuse keeps blowing,


if i remove the power line to the the standby constructor the system runs fine. but if its connected and in standby it blows the fuse. am i missing something or do i need to completely remove the power line every if i have something im not running ATM


edit so im not sure why it was working when i removed a system maybe i didnt leave it long enough, however looking at the power graph it seems 4 devices runiing are at 16.2 MW not 16. thus 5 devices would put me just over 20mw

If your blowing fuses then your power generators are not supplying enough power.

You need to meet ur demand then ur fuses won't blow.