Most efficient solar panel setup?

[Maelstrom]

At the moment i use logic circuits (no computer) with the following setup:

(Solar Angle - 15) / 1.5, max 99
If Panel Charge >= 300
send calculated panel angle to panels
else
send 0

Using 5 processor chips, 3 io chips and 4 memory chips. 1 Apc without a battery.


My logic circuit is behind a apc wihout a battery. This means that when the sun goes down I dont draw any power for them and when it comes up the panels are ready to start it all up again.

This seems to get capture as much possible charge per pannel and I dont have to run the circuits during the night.
I could probably use the calculated panel angle to reset the panels and this could use less chips, but i think i would loose some accumulated charge and be less efficient as soon as you have more than 2 panels.

I'm not necessarily aiming for the smallest chip setup but the most efficient use of chips drawing the most power for an array of panels.
What do you guys think? is there a better setup that meets the above criteria?

[Weyland-Yutani HR]

This is the setup I used. Doesn't drop below 480 watts unless it's sunrise or sunset.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1254363900

Sounds like you were on to something similar but also took panel charge into account.

[Ext.]

3 mems, 2 I/O, 3 procs

works well for me

[Maelstrom]

Amallore:
Yeah thats an awsome setup and its essentially what is doing the lions share of efficiency in my setup as well.
I think what I am adding to it is that while i'm adding two processors and one IO, i'm reducing the overall circuit power use over a 24 hour period. Over 24 hours this should save half the power of a processor chip and half the power of a io chip.

I also like the idea of it not having to run at night or need a battery. I found the linked setup has to run overnight otherwise the panel isn't in the right position to catch the morning sun.

Bob Lee:
Yes i agree it works well but was looking for the most effieiency. Those setups are fine and work well, this is just a tiny bit more efficient.

[Weyland-Yutani HR]

Maelstrom, I did what you're talking about with the two I/O chips but have them switching off a transformer when the sun sets. It definitely helps power use.

You also don't need solder for a transformer.

[Maelstrom]

Sounds Interesting Amallore, how do you reset the panels with the transformer and two io's so that they catch the morning sun?

[Weyland-Yutani HR]

I tied the daylight sensor into the base network so the IOs can read it. Set a logic reader to check if the daylight sensor is active.

Then I used a logic writer to turn on the transformer based on that output.

The panels don't reset to morning position until the sun comes up. By the time they're in position they'll charge at 300 watts. You miss out on a little power but not enough to worry about for the simplicity of it.

[Qualfisch19]

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

Amallore:
Yeah thats an awsome setup and its essentially what is doing the lions share of efficiency in my setup as well.
I think what I am adding to it is that while i'm adding two processors and one IO, i'm reducing the overall circuit power use over a 24 hour period. Over 24 hours this should save half the power of a processor chip and half the power of a io chip.

I also like the idea of it not having to run at night or need a battery. I found the linked setup has to run overnight otherwise the panel isn't in the right position to catch the morning sun.

Bob Lee:
Yes i agree it works well but was looking for the most effieiency. Those setups are fine and work well, this is just a tiny bit more efficient.

Actually with the aditional Logic you are loosing energy in the long run:
Normally in 24h you need 5 energy equivalents of a logic cirquit.
In your setup you reduce this number by half but introduce 3 new "costs" = 5.5 energy equivalents per day.
In the end you gain 2 energy equivalents at night but you loose 3 during day time to charge the battery.

Edit:

5 Is your default cost in energy per day.
by adding 3 logic cirquits your daytime consumption is 8 and nighttime is 3.
That's the difference to 5 of -3 at daytime and +2 at nighttime is your profit/ loss

If you were about to run out of energy often then it's better to invest in more batteries or solar panels instead of a fancy shutdown of only solar control. Or it may be worth shutting down your filtration system at night.

[Weyland-Yutani HR]

I've got two stationary batteries and typically can accidentally leave my filtering equipment on for days while I go mining.

Not concerned with the energy loss from two chips.

Also, nuclear batteries make great life support for your suit.

[Medieval Peanut]

I have 6 panels and 3 batteries, i just leave all my stuff on all the time. Even with that I hardly draw enough power to drain over a battery. Just add more solar panels and batteries as needed. Turn off lights, that seems to burn more energy than all the air filtering etc equipment. I found to get half decent lighting in a building you need a lot of lights and each one is a vampire on your grid.

[Maelstrom]

I have 10 panels set up and can my run chips off run off one with emergy to spare, so energy isn't an issue for me. I have all the systems set up already. I'm just playing with each system for fun to see if i can make them any more efficient/automated, not really for any practical benefit :)

Quete:
I think i'm struggling to understand how you define energy equivalents, could you help me understand what you mean?
My setup doesn't use a battery and there is no draw on the circuits at night at all so shoun't it be 0 at night?

[Qualfisch19]

Originally posted by Amallore:

I've got two stationary batteries and typically can accidentally leave my filtering equipment on for days while I go mining.

Not concerned with the energy loss from two chips.

Also, nuclear batteries make great life support for your suit.

Sure but then you don't need to shut anything ever down, so no need for additional cirquits.

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

... I think i'm struggling to understand how you define energy equivalents, could you help me understand what you mean?

1 cirquit uses 5W. So 5W is the euivalent of 1 cirquit. Each thing that consumes 5W is equivalent to 1 cirquit. At the time I wrote the comment I wasn't sure about the amount used by cirquits.

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

My setup doesn't use a battery and there is no draw on the circuits at night at all so shoun't it be 0 at night?

I havn't thought about that... I always used an APC with a small battery to power my solar control.
Anyway in your case you're right. The powerusage at night is 0.

[Norseman]

Originally posted by Bob Lee Swagger:

3 mems, 2 I/O, 3 procs

works well for me

Same here, at best it draws 490W but drops a bit at lower angles.

Sufficient enough for now.

Only thing is the panels 'tick' back at nighttime and draw power unnecessary.
I want to fix them so when power is at zero at sunset (<0 Watt), they go back to sunrise position and stay there till power is draw (> 0 Watt), sunrise.

[Vissaben]

((SA / 2) * .1 * 1.11) + (SA / 2)

This is what i'm using right now still tweaking it but max angle is 99.99

edit: forgot to list what it needs.
3 Memory:
Memory#1: 2
Memory#2: 0.1
Memory#3: 1.11

4 Math:
Math#1: Solar Angle / Memory#1
Math#2: Math#1 * Memory#2
Math#3: Math#2 * Memory#3
Math#4: Math#3 + Math#1

2 IO

[Kraft51]

i've been using the one that Rhadamant uses, it maintains 485-499 for most of the day. most signifigant drops are at sunrise and sunset obviously. 4 procs, 2 I/O, and 4 mem

2 math units (SA*0.66667) - 10
2 min/max units 0> and <100

i haven't paid attention to angle so i'm not sure if its hitting 100 or sitting at 99.99

[Vissaben]

Originally posted by Kraft51:

i've been using the one that Rhadamant uses, it maintains 485-499 for most of the day. most signifigant drops are at sunrise and sunset obviously. 4 procs, 2 I/O, and 4 mem

2 math units (SA*0.66667) - 10
2 min/max units 0> and <100

i haven't paid attention to angle so i'm not sure if its hitting 100 or sitting at 99.99

the math has the max angle at 100.0006