Q-Tech Utilities Guide

This is a guide to the various blocks in the Q-Tech Utilities mod.

Introduction

Welcome to Q-Tech Utilities. This is a collection of all my general, non-themed blocks. The idea is simple; take the vanilla concept and make it bigger / stronger / further. This guide is up to date for version 3.6.

Antenna / Beacon

The Q-Tech Antenna has small and large block variants, both of which have a maximum broadcast range of 500km. The antenna has a custom model which is only 1x1x1 blocks in size.


The Q-Tech Beacon has small and large block variants, both of which have a maximum broadcast range of 500km. The beacon uses the vanilla model.

Battery

The Q-Tech Battery has small and large block variants with characteristics as indicated in the table below.

	Large Block	Small Block
Max Power Output	100MW	4MW
Max Power Input	50MW	2MW
Max Stored Power	100MWh	4 MWh

Beam Drill

The Beam Drill is a retractable drill designed for mining ore from a distance. The range of the beam is 500m for the large block and 100m for the small block. The Beam Drill deploys when powered on and retracts when powered off. The beam will damage characters if they are hit by it.

Cargo

The Q-Tech Cargo Container comes in three variants. The large cargo container is large block, has a capacity of 10,000,000 litres, and is 1x1x1 blocks in size. The medium cargo container is small block, has a capacity of 3,600,000 litres, and is 3x3x3 blocks in size with large conveyor connectors. The small cargo container is small block, has a capacity of 400,000 litres, and is 1x1x1 blocks in size.

Conveyors

The Q-Tech Conveyors are an expanded set of enclosed and pipe conveyors allowing for a more elegant conveyoring solution. Also included are flush fitting large block connectors with multiple conveyor ports as well as a flush fitting small block connector and an adapter to allow for conveyoring to the connector. All connectors are armored with approximately the same integrity as a heavy armor block.

Drives

The Q-Tech Drives are thrusters that produce no visible flames and no thruster damage, even when thruster damage is turned on in the world settings. Each drive unit is 1x1x1 blocks in size. There are two variants, the MK1 and the MK2, and four sub-variants of each. The large block MK1 sub-variants produce 100MN, 250MN, 500MN and 1,000MN of thrust. The small block MK2 sub-variants produce 10MN, 25MN, 50MN and 100MN of thrust.

Emissive Strips

The Q-Tech Emissive Strips are four emissive "decals" that can be applied to blocks, especially armor, to create demarkated areas such as landing pads and hangar docking bays. They are paintable in any color.

Gasses

The Q-Tech Oxygen and Hydrogen Tanks are small block tanks. Each is 1x1x1 blocks in size. The Oxygen Tank has a capacity of 100,000 litres and the Hydrogen Tank has a capacity of 200,000 litres.


There are two variants of the Q-Tech O2 / H2 Generator; both are small block. The small generator is 1x1x1 blocks in size. The medium generator is 3x1x3 blocks in size and has large conveyor connectors to allow for refilling of bottles.

Gravity Generator

The Q-Tech Gravity Generator has small and large block variants, both using the vanilla model. The large block generator has a field range of 2,000m and the small block generator has a field range of 400m.

Gyroscope

The Q-Tech Gyroscope has small and large block variants, both using the vanilla model. There are three sub-variants for each variant, having the force equivalent of 10, 100 and 1,000 gyroscopes.

Hydrogen Engine

The Q-Tech Hydrogen Engine is more powerful but also uses more fuel. To compensate for that it has a larger fuel tank. The large block engine produces 50MW at maximum output and the small block produces 2MW. At maximum power output the engine will run for 30 minutes on a full tank of fuel.

Jump Drive

The Q-Tech Jump Drive uses a scaled down version of the vanilla model that is only 1x1x1 blocks in size and comes in small and large block variants. The large block has a jump range of 100,000km and the small block has a jump range of 1,000km.

LCD Images

The Q-Tech Mod Pack contains a number of LCD images that can be used on LCD screens or on the smaller screens of cockpit blocks. There are six square and six wide LCD images and one double wide image. All are intended to resemble the control or readout screen of a futuristic spaceship.

Lighting

The Q-Tech Down Light is an inset (part of a block) light that has a wider radius and more powerful light than standard interior lights. Perfect for lighting those large hangars. Being inset also means that you can place other blocks directly below it.


The Q-Tech Spotlights are smaller, more powerful, more discreet LED style spotlights. There are 30°. 45° and 90° angled spotlights in centred and offset variants.

Reactors

The Q-Tech Reactors have small and large block variants and each has a small and large sub-variant as well. All reactors use the vanilla models. The two large block variants produce 2.7GW and 100MW, while the two small block variants produce 108MW and 4MW.

Repair System

The Repair System is an area module that will repair (or build) blocks within a 100m (large grid) or 20m (small grid) radius of the Repair System at twice the speed of a vanilla ship welder. In Creative Mode it repairs or assembles blocks without requiring resources; in Survival Mode it will consume components just like any welder. The Repair System will not damage characters inside its operating volume.

Salvager

The Salvager is an area module that will grind blocks within a 100m (large grid) or 20m (small grid) radius of the Salvager at twice the speed of a vanilla ship grinder. In Creative Mode it will grind but not produce components from the grinding process; in Survival Mode it will produce components just like any grinder. The Salvager will not damage characters inside its operating volume.

Sensor

The Q-Tech Sensor has small and large block variants that use the vanilla model. The large block has a maximum range of 10,000m and the small block has a maximum range of 5,000m.

Solar Panels

The Q-Tech Solar Panels have small and large block variants that use the vanilla model. The large block panel produces a maximum of 10MW and the small block panel produces a maximum of 2MW. Additionally, there are centred versions of both large and small panels.

Thrusters

There are three sets of Q-Tech Thrusters, corresponding to the vanilla versions. They all use vanilla models, but have a custom flame and no damage cone, even when thruster damage is turned on in the world settings. The Atmospheric, Hydrogen and Ion Thrusters all have a MK1 and MK2 variant in small and large block, corresponding to the standard and large versions of the vanilla thrusters. Thrust output for is given in the table below.

	Large Block	Small Block
MK1	10MN, 25MN, 50MN and 75 MN	1MN, 2.5MN, 5MN and 7.5MN
MK2	100MN, 250MN, 500MN and 1,000MN	10MN, 25MN, 50MN and 100MN

The restrictions and power limitations of the vanilla thrusters apply equally to the Q-Tech Thruster series.

Vents

There are two air vents; one full block and one sloped. The vents are heavier and tougher than vanilla air vents and have flush corners to fit in with armor blocks. There are large and small grid variants of both.

Miscellaneous

There is a file in the mod pack that increases the energy density of Hydrogen by 10 times. In effect, Hydrogen Thrusters and player jetpacks will have fuel consumption reduced to 10% of what it would normally be in vanilla Space Engineers. This doesn't affect the fuel consumption of the Hydrogen Engine however.

[Squeech]

Hi, just a request: please make it very clear on the front page that this mod includes a GasProperties.sbc change that boosts Hydrogen energy density by 10x (thrusters/jetpacks using only 10% fuel). I spent a long time designing and balancing ships thinking I was on vanilla values and only found this out much later, which was really frustrating. This kind of fundamental balance change shouldn’t be hidden under “Miscellaneous” – it deserves a prominent note or even its own optional sub-mod.

[Qarannia]

@jasonbanta2 No problem. hope you find where the conflict is. This is always a possibility when modding a game; the mods don't always play nicely with each other.

[jasonbanta2]

When I load it up solo, it works so I have a conflict. On to the next investigation. Thanks for the feedback and again...Awesome mod, thanks for sharing it.

[jasonbanta2]

@Qarannia No, it will work if I manually drag stuff through them, but if I try filling a cargo container automatically from a running drill, or a refinery, it doesn't move. It just fills up the space on the drill or refinery causing them to stop. If I use any other setup besides a O2 generator or converter, it works fine. As I type this, maybe I have another conflicting mod. I will try it solo and see if it is still an issue.

[Qarannia]

@jasonbanta2 Hmmm, it worked last I checked. You're not trying to send stuff through that isn't meant for small ports are you?

[jasonbanta2]

I love the mod, but am having issues with the small ports on the sides of the Medium O2 Generator and the conveyor converter plate. cargo will pass through the medium sized connections fine, but does not like the small side mount connections. Any thoughts?

[OddSloth]

Its all good, it is just some info if people experience the same issue, Great Mod!

[Qarannia]

@OddSloth Ah, yes, Industrial Overhaul is not always compatible with a fair few other mods. I am aware of the issue with the animation; I've yet to get it sorted though.

[OddSloth]

I found a conflicting mod. So I removed Industrial Overhaul and the mod works as it should. Both large and small grids. Not sure why it is causing the issue.

Also accidentally deleted my comment, So main issue was Large Grid Drill not working properly, When placed on a powered grid, the activate switch turns off the drill, and vice versa. Won't fire.

Another weird problem was when placed on an unpowered grid and then powered, the drill reverse direction. Instead of coming through the hatches it exits through the bottom. Also not firing.

[Qarannia]

@OddSloth Yeah I've seen the issue with placing one on an unpowered grid; I don't have a fix for it yet but I'm looking into it.

I've not seen the other issue with reversing direction that isn't related to placing it on a grid with no power.