Power System Basics - Early Game Power Guide

Power System Overview

Electricity is the lifeline of all automation facilities in StarRupture. From simple biomass generators to complex nuclear reactors, building a stable and efficient power system is key to success.

Why is Power So Important?

On Arcadia-7, almost all equipment requires electricity:

• 🔨 Manufacturing facilities: Assemblers, smelters, chemical plants
• ⚙️ Automation equipment: Mining drills, conveyor belts, robotic arms
• 🏭 Infrastructure: Defense towers, shield generators, lighting systems
• 🔬 Research facilities: Laboratories, data centers

[!IMPORTANT] Insufficient power will cause equipment shutdowns, seriously affecting production efficiency. Planning a good power system is crucial!

Early Power Generation

Biomass Generator

Basic Stats:

• Output power: 300kW
• Fuel type: Biomass, wood, plant fiber
• Burn efficiency: 1 unit fuel = 20 seconds
• Pollution: Low

Usage Tips:

Biomass sources:
1. Chop trees (fastest)
2. Harvest bushes
3. Collect plant fibers
4. Farm cultivation (late game)

Pros:

• ✅ Low construction cost
• ✅ Easy fuel acquisition
• ✅ Sufficient for early game

Cons:

• ❌ Manual fuel addition needed (can be automated)
• ❌ Lower power output
• ❌ Not suitable for large scale

[!TIP] Place a storage chest next to the biomass generator and use robotic arms to automatically refuel for semi-automated operation.

Coal Generator

Basic Stats:

• Output power: 800kW
• Fuel type: Coal
• Burn efficiency: 1 unit coal = 45 seconds
• Pollution: Medium

Recommended Setup:

[Coal Mining] → [Conveyor Belt] → [Coal Generator] → [Power Output]

Pros:

• ✅ 2.6x power of biomass
• ✅ Longer fuel duration
• ✅ Easy to automate

Cons:

• ❌ Requires coal resources
• ❌ Higher pollution
• ❌ Needs conveyor system

Basic Grid Layout

Simple Power System

Basic power layout for early base:

[Generator] → [Power Pole] → [Equipment]

Key Points:

• Power pole coverage: 15m radius
• Generators can directly connect to nearby equipment
• Beyond 15m requires relay power poles

Power Transmission Basics

Cable Types:

• Small cable: Early game, 1MW capacity
• Medium cable: Mid game, 5MW capacity
• Large cable: Late game, 20MW capacity

Transmission Loss:

• Small cable: 5% loss per 100m
• Medium cable: 2% loss per 100m
• Large cable: 0.5% loss per 100m

[!WARNING] In early game, keep generators close to equipment to minimize transmission loss!

Early Power Configuration Recommendations

First Base (0-1 hour)

Power Setup:
- 2-3 Biomass Generators
- Total Power: 600-900kW

Supports:
- 1-2 Smelters
- 2-3 Mining Drills
- Basic conveyor system
- Simple assembly facilities

Expansion Phase (1-2 hours)

Power Setup:
- 3-5 Coal Generators
- Total Power: 2.4-4MW
- Optional: 1-2 Biomass Generators as backup

Supports:
- Multiple production
- 5-10 Mining Drills
- Complex conveyor network
- Early research facilities

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Frequent Power Outages

Diagnosis:

1. Check if total generation exceeds consumption
2. Verify fuel supply is adequate
3. Confirm cable connections are intact

Solutions:

• Add more generators
• Set up automatic fuel replenishment
• Check power pole coverage

Issue 2: Fuel Consumption Too Fast

Causes:

• Too many generators running
• Idle equipment still consuming power

Solutions:

• Shut down unnecessary generators
• Use circuit network to control equipment
• Upgrade to more efficient power generation

Issue 3: Unstable Power

Symptoms:

• Equipment turning on and off
• Production efficiency fluctuating

Solutions:

• Add battery buffer (5MWh sufficient)
• Ensure 20% power margin
• Stagger startup of high-power equipment

Next Steps

After mastering early power, you can:

1. 📖 Learn Renewable Energy Systems - Solar, wind, geothermal
2. 📖 Explore Advanced Power Technology - Nuclear and fusion
3. 📖 Optimize Grid Management Systems - Improve efficiency

[!TIP] Before transitioning to mid-game power, ensure your coal supply chain is stable. Recommend establishing at least 2 independent coal mining lines.

Summary

Early power systems are simple but form the foundation of your entire industrial empire:

Key Points:

• ⚡ Start with biomass, quickly transition to coal power
• 🔧 Automate fuel replenishment early
• 📏 Plan power pole placement wisely to reduce transmission loss
• 🔋 Reserve 20% power margin for expansion
• 📊 Regularly check power production and consumption balance

Starting from crude biomass generators, your power journey has just begun. Build steadily and prepare for future large-scale industrialization!