Solar Panels, are they worth it?

[Stardustfire]

and if so, are they able to take over the job from a normal generator (if enove are build)?
i mean i builded 2 for testing, but they have no mentationed power output, only a measy 50 Power Charging battery. if i take into account that even the nomral 1500 Batterys get slurped out in seconds at a power shortage, am i right to think solar panels are useless as they are?

[DeadMeat]

They take up a lot of real estate and need to be configured a certain way for max benefit, but I think are worth it. Here's how I do it.

You create chain of solar cells, I wouldn't do more than 5 in a row, then at end you put a battery. Next to battery you put a power node (150pt). Starting at the back of chain you make it one directional towards the battery until you connect to battery. Battery connects to the power node 1 direction as well. This way the solar cells are always being drained and producing energy.

You can create your bank of solar cells by doing another row next to it the same way and you connect the power nodes to each other with 2 way connections. Those nodes connect to your power grid using a 1 way connection. You may have to add on more power node on one of the ends so power flows out in 2 directions. You can also add extra batteries, just make sure the 1 way connection leads out to power node.

edit: As you can see, I blocked off the arrays completely after done, but with new hazards you may have to put a path in between to repair. Not sure, I haven't run in to that circumstance yet.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2178864538

[OKOK]

usually at mid game. solar power will take over power generation

[Mein Schweg]

use 3 + big ass generator to keep things going smoothly, it should be able to handle a uber sized ship.

solo its gonna take too many and it will suc, they are a good complement, not a main source.

[DeadMeat]

I have a very big ship and it only needs 40 panels. I have 1 large gen for backup, but I still haven't needed it. With solar, you don't have to worry about power rods. Even with 40, it seems a bit overkill.

[Luzilyo]

regardless of wether you want to go full solar powered or not, i think adding a few solar panels does help in any situation. your ship may still rely on the generator, but even with just a few, you take some load off the generator, meaning it will consume rods a bit slower. at least that's how i understood it when i read a different thread where some people anwsered a similar question.

[Bobucles]

Full solar is fantastic. It saves energy cells and buys a ton of time to sit back and do stuff.