APC vs. Small Transformer vs Large Transformer

[darkSol]

I'm needing to work out a bug in my power system, but it would be helpful if I better understood how to use these 3 devices correctly.

The APC is pretty basic, I get that it acts as a battery storage too, which is useful for your critical systems if you're not storing enough power to last through the night. What I don't know is how it deals with power in and out. Somewhere I read that it acts as a transformer with fixed values, is that true? What's the max output? Does this device consume power when it's battery is fully charged?

I'm pretty vague on how to correctly use the 2 sizes of transformers. I currently run heavy cable from my solar array to my station batteries (3 at present), and heavy cable from the batteries to my primary transformer (a large one). The transformer is set to 5kW which iirc is the limit for the standard cable.

The issue I've run into is that my station requires more than 5kW. I set up a pretty demanding filtration system with loads of backpressure regulators, in addition to the filter machines themselves. I put another large transformer in that room that everything in the filtration room runs off of. When I turn on the filtration transformer, the rest of my base loses power.

What I have in mind is to run Heavy cable to the filtration transformer, and separate the rest of my station's power onto another transformer, also with heavy cable leading to it. Then I can increase the output coming from the primary transformer in my battery room.

Are the small transformers more efficient in this scenario? Or are they just less expensive to build?

What about fuses? I have not used them, would they allow me to increase the power from the primary and prevent blowout? Or are they just a limiter so if you exceed the power capacity of your wiring, they fail instead of a random wire?

Hope someone can shed some light (pun intended).

[FallenSunGaming]

so if you draw more power than the transformer is set to allow, it breaks the circuit until power usage decreases (think breaker) but automatically resets the moment power has dropped.

So if your first transformer is allowing 5k, and you're using 1.5kw on your base, and your filtration system takes 4.5 kw (what mine takes) your first transformer will try to provide 6kw of power, (which it's limited below that) and so just shuts off).

The fuses are great for when you're running a bunch of cabling through welded blocks etc, in that, if you install them in an accessible location, if you somehow try to draw more energy than what the fuse is rated for, the fuse will burn out, preventing the wire from breaking inside of a random block (and having to go hunt for it)

The APC controls power output to smooth out power spikes required from machinery, so that your solars can keep up with the power requirements, (think capacitors), and acting like a tiny battery.

As far as I can tell, the difference in transformers (apart from the large one being able to provide 50kw vs the small's 5kw) is just cost. why bother using a 50kw transformer, for a load that only needs 5kw.

So I would recommend running your main transformer at a high enough capacity to power both networks, and then use smaller transformers down the line to power each system, and if needed, run heavy cable from there.

Another note on fuses, if you put a 5kw fuse on a regular cable coil, but are pulling 20kw across heavy coil cable in a different part of your base, but still all connected, your 5kw fuse will blow, even if the devices down line from it are only pulling 5 watts. (so use transformers to protect fuses, and fuses to protect your wires in hidden locations) ((put fuses after your APC's, APC's can exceed the output of transformers, causing wiring to blow, even if the transformer is only set to 5kw.))

[BrazenBran]

My reccomandation is to split out your batteries to different system. All Solars and the Solid Geny can power all batteries but then have each battery lead to a seperate transformer that are wired to different systems.

I broke out my systems as follows:

Essentials (Red Wire) : Solar Control, Airlocks, Emergency Vents etc.

Life Support (Green Wire): Air Filtration and cooling

Machines (Black Wire): Fabricators etc.

Utility (White Wire): Lights / Non Airlock Doors

[darkSol]

In my case the primary transformer is not shutting off (green light is still on). The secondary filtration transformer is showing that it is shut off (switch is green but not lit up), but everything drawing power from it is working, while everything else in the base is not getting power. I don't think that's quite the way you explained it, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I've mostly been using APC for some isolated cases where I need to make sure they keep power or else the solars for example will quit tracking.

Would you recommend making use of them for other things, in line after the transformer maybe? Like for example, put all my room's lights on one APC, All the filtration units on another, and all the Regulators and volume pumps on another? Would be good for controlling them individually of course, but does this also improve power consumption (as in the spikes you mentioned)?

If I use those APC's as described, could I output more wattage via heavy cable from the transformer to the APC's, and thus get more power to the room as a whole, while still limiting the potential to damage the light duty cables that come out of the APC's?

Thanks, for the info, I've a big project to work on now.

[darkSol]

Ooh, BrazenBran, that's a good idea, I never thought of that. Not sure I'll use it though as I kind of like the idea of having a large overall power reserve to pull from. The separation of power for all the systems though seems really smart, and I'll have to give that some more thought. Thanks!

[DoomLord9]

And if a single battery for a specific set of systems isn't enough, put another battery drawing from the first, giving a second reserve for that line only

[BrazenBran]

Yeah as doomlord said that was my plan if I ever needed additional power for a specific subsystem.

[FallenSunGaming]

yup, eventually you'll draw more than 50kw for your base, so you'll need to have seperate circuits, also if your transformer is turned on, but not powered, you've either burnt a wire going to it, or you're trying to draw more through it than what it's set to deliver.