Why are cables burning out?

[pazartesi_gorusuruz]

I understand from the wiki and the videos I watched that the normal cables can carry 5000 watts? Well even when I only have 1 single solar panel connected to the apc, as soon as I turn it on, a cable along the line towards base will burn out. Why is this happening?

It used to work fine with 1 panel, then I put in 3 more panels and a stationery battery. Could it be because of that? But I double checked the position and the connections of the battery, it's set up the right way.

I have 1 solar panel -> feeding 1 apc and it is connected the right way -> feeding the big battery -> feeding another apc -> feeding the rest of the base machines.

But as soon as I replace a burnt wire along the line, another one burns out. Currently I can't play because I end up powerless and cannot charge my batteries. The burning wires are always between the big battery and the first apc eating from the solar panel.

[Mora]

I had a Solid fuel generator and a single solar panel > battery > pc cables burn

If you change to heavy cables from the power source to the battery >APC then it works fine for me.

If your heavy cables burn then add a transformer Power source > battery's > transformer >apc >base.

you can also divide your base electrical network in areas control by different apc boxes.

[Orici Vintarion]

normal cables snap at 5.000W and the Heavy Cables snap at 100.000W


if you use batteries and a coal gen to power them .. use Heavy cables since the battery drains as much power as they can and a Coal Gen puts out more than 5.000W

[Norseman]

Originally posted by pazartesi_gorusuruz:

I understand from the wiki and the videos I watched that the normal cables can carry 5000 watts? Well even when I only have 1 single solar panel connected to the apc, as soon as I turn it on, a cable along the line towards base will burn out. Why is this happening?

It used to work fine with 1 panel, then I put in 3 more panels and a stationery battery. Could it be because of that? But I double checked the position and the connections of the battery, it's set up the right way.

I have 1 solar panel -> feeding 1 apc and it is connected the right way -> feeding the big battery -> feeding another apc -> feeding the rest of the base machines.

But as soon as I replace a burnt wire along the line, another one burns out. Currently I can't play because I end up powerless and cannot charge my batteries. The burning wires are always between the big battery and the first apc eating from the solar panel.

You have connected something wrong, pictures would be helpful though ;)
Earlier version you could connect 10 solar panels at Moon on the normal cables (3kw) coil so you should be good, What planet are you on?
Normal is 5kw and Heavy is 100kw as you said yourself.

Do you use separate inputs for power out and data? One on each side of the Solar panel right?

[pazartesi_gorusuruz]

Thanks for the answers. I'm on the moon. I just reverted the big battery thing entirely and went back to
panels -> apc -> rest of base.
Now it's working, nothing is burning, but i really wanna utilize the big battery, i wonder what i'm doing wrong. i think my issue was this:

Originally posted by Norseman:

Do you use separate inputs for power out and data? One on each side of the Solar panel right?

I think the output of the battery feeded right back into the same circuit as the one that actually feeds it. So it kinda fed itself too if you know what I mean. Could that be why? If that's the reason, then how do I set up the big battery while also using all of the panels and also feeding all this power to the rest of the base?

I thought I would use the big battery as a huge power buffer between the panels and the rest of the base. That is what I was trying to do but I don't know how to set it up really

[jollibee]

I like to partition different grids. So I have the solar panels with heavy cable going into a large battery, then to a transformer where I have an output of 4900 W to then go to smaller cable and to my equipment. I have the same set up for different areas: greenhouse, main base, solar tracking logic ect.

Once I did mix my power and data cable before an apc and it made wires burn out, but when I put the power through an apc and then connected it with data it was ok.

[Radioshow]

Batteries will put out full power if they can which will burn your cables. Use heavy cable unless at start with a few solar panels. You can do Solar panel--->battery--->APC---> your stuff as long as you dont pull more power from than APC than 5k watts and even a full battery wont burn your cables. The APC will only pull as much as you ask for. If going from a coal generator etc. use heavy cables., and later game you separate everything with APC's/transformers

[pazartesi_gorusuruz]

Thanks for the answers guys, so I have two more questions then, I am a total noob by the way, the highet achievement I have ever gotten in this game was when I finally after 2 years managed solar tracking yesterday. So it's a whole new world for me xD

So how do I know how much power my machines are pulling when they run? For example I'm only at the start so I just have the autolathe, electronics printer, arc furnace, pipe bender, centrifuge and recycler connected to a grid. How much would this pull?

Also, how can I split the grid? Do I completely dedicate new solar panels to each new grid? That's a lot of hassle. Isn't there some kinda way to just harvest power from a bunch of solar panels and then redirect/limit them to seperate grids ?

[Norseman]

Originally posted by pazartesi_gorusuruz:

Thanks for the answers. I'm on the moon. I just reverted the big battery thing entirely and went back to
panels -> apc -> rest of base.
Now it's working, nothing is burning, but i really wanna utilize the big battery, i wonder what i'm doing wrong. i think my issue was this:

Originally posted by Norseman:

Do you use separate inputs for power out and data? One on each side of the Solar panel right?

I think the output of the battery feeded right back into the same circuit as the one that actually feeds it. So it kinda fed itself too if you know what I mean. Could that be why? If that's the reason, then how do I set up the big battery while also using all of the panels and also feeding all this power to the rest of the base?

I thought I would use the big battery as a huge power buffer between the panels and the rest of the base. That is what I was trying to do but I don't know how to set it up really

It's a mistake I have made also. When you build the Kit Battery you will get one side with Input (Red Arrow only), that is Input. Then you have the Output and Data port on each port on the other side and that is the Output. Solar panels or any feeding power source goes on the Input side ;)

[Xennon]

If you want to limit the wattage available, use a transformer. A small transformer will only go up to 5000W, a large transformer will go up to 50000W. If you put a transformer after your battery/APC, but before all of your kit, with heavy cables in between, then nothing will burn out (unless you try to draw >100000W ). However, you MIGHT brown out (not enough power), so you need to make sure each of your circuits is fed the right amount.

I use a heavy cable circuit for my power generation (solid fuel, solar panels, in to station batteries, in to heavy transformers and to the subcuircuit APC's. Then I have small transformers after the APC's, then I use light cable circuits for whatever is after (workshop area, greenhouse etc).

If you put a 'network analyser' card into your tablet, and point it at a cable, it will give you the details of that power network. NOTE: APC's split your power network, so numbers from before and after an APC may be different.

[pazartesi_gorusuruz]

Originally posted by Xennon:

If you want to limit the wattage available, use a transformer. A small transformer will only go up to 5000W, a large transformer will go up to 50000W. If you put a transformer after your battery/APC, but before all of your kit, with heavy cables in between, then nothing will burn out (unless you try to draw >100000W ). However, you MIGHT brown out (not enough power), so you need to make sure each of your circuits is fed the right amount.

I use a heavy cable circuit for my power generation (solid fuel, solar panels, in to station batteries, in to heavy transformers and to the subcuircuit APC's. Then I have small transformers after the APC's, then I use light cable circuits for whatever is after (workshop area, greenhouse etc).

If you put a 'network analyser' card into your tablet, and point it at a cable, it will give you the details of that power network. NOTE: APC's split your power network, so numbers from before and after an APC may be different.

Thank you that's very explanative and helpful, i will try to set it up a similar way, it makes sense now when you think about it.