Difference between revisions of "Electricity"

Revision as of 22:24, 4 September 2015

Electricity is a system and resource in Space Engineers that is used to power most devices. It is created using a large or small reactor, or by using a Solar Panel. It can be stored in a Battery. Any device that has a direct block connection to a reactor will be powered by a reactor; that is, if a reactor is on a ship, all devices attached to that ship should receive power granted there is enough power to receive. Electricity can pass through rotor blocks, pistons, and locked connectors (incl. small-to-large connections), but not landing gear. Most blocks have off switches if you want to save electricity temporarily.

Sources energy

Reactors are the main source of electricity. They are powered by Uranium Ingots. 1 ingot produces 68.76 MWs or 0.0191 MWh of energy. Consumption of Uranium is solely decided by your current energy consumption. There is no difference in efficiency between large and small reactors. It also makes no difference how many reactors you have online.

The maximum amount a sources energy can power:

Sources energy		Small block [KW]	Large block [KW]
	Small Reactor	500	15'000
	Large Reactor	14'750	300'000
	Solar Panel	30*	120*
	Battery	4'320	12'000

(*) Solar Panels have a maximum output depending on their angle to the sun and the amount of actually lit surface. Given values are the maximum achievable output with perfect conditions.

Conversion table:

                 1 MW = 1000 KW = 1000000 W 
                 1 W = 0.001 KW = 0.000001 MW

Power Usage

Thruster

Thruster type		Block type		Minimum Power [KW]	Maximum Power [KW]	Inertial Dampeners [KW]
	Small		Small	0.002	201	301.5
	Large		Small	0.002	2'400	3'600
	Small		Large	0.002	3'360	5'040
	Large		Large	0.002	33'600	50'400

Production (Individual Usage)

Machine		Idle [KW]	Operational [KW]
	Projector	0.100	0.198
	Arc Furnace	0.999	330.000
	Assembler	0.999	560.000
	Refinery	0.999	560.000

Weaponry and tools

Device		Small Ship [KW]	Large Ship [KW]
	Drill	2	2
	Welder	2	2
	Grinder	2	2
	Gatling Turret	N/A	2
	Missile Turret	N/A	2
	Interior Turret	N/A	2
	Reloadable Rocket Launcher	0.2	N/A
	Gatling Gun	0.2	N/A

Communication

Device		Small Ship [KW]	Large Ship [KW]
	Beacon	0 - 10	0 - 10
	Antenna	0 - 20	0 - 200
	Laser Antenna	181**	577**

(**) The maximum power usage of laser antenna include both beaming and rotating at once. Beaming alone would be 180 for Small and 576 For large.

Other device power usages

Device		Small Ship [KW]	Large Ship [KW]
	Gravity Generator	N/A	0 - 567.13***
	Spherical Gravity Generator	N/A	0 - 44800***
	Artificial Mass	25	600
	Interior Light	N/A	0.06
	Spotlight	0.200	1
	Medical Room	N/A	2
	Door	N/A	0.031
	Gyroscope	0.001	0.03
	Ore Detector	2	2
	LCD Panel	0.1	0.1
	Wide LCD Panel	0.2	0.2
	Button Panel	0.1	0.1
	Rotor	0.2	2
	Advanced Rotor	0.2	2
	Piston Base	0.2	2
	Collector	2	2
	Connector	0.05	5
	Camera	0.03	0.03
	Sensor	0 - 30	0 - 30
	Remote Control	10	10
	Programmable Block	0.5	0.5
	Sound Block	0.2	0.2

(***) The power cost of Gravity Generator is directly proportional to the field size and acceleration (absolute value, so 1G consumes the same as -1G).