Electricity Reference & Design
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:42 am
This guide is intended to be an overview of all power-producing and power-consuming devices in Barotrauma, the effects of the various tweakable editor fields, and solve common problems when creating a functional power network.
OVERVIEW
There are three key concepts to understanding the Barotrauma power network: Power, Load and Voltage.
Power is all energy contributed to the power network. Load is the sum total of all power consumption. Some devices can toggle their load, and some can vary it along a range.
Voltage is power divided by load. 1000kw power / 1000kw load = 1 voltage. Devices function or fail depending on the current voltage level. Voltage can cause issues if it is too high or too low.
Power does not cause problems. Load does not cause problems. A significant difference between power and load causes problems.
DEVICES
A powered device is any placeable ship component that interacts with the power network. There are several such devices, each with their own purpose and tweakables. Whenever a powered device (most of the Machine tab and some of the Electrical tab) is selected in the editor, an additional GUI element appears at the top of the screen. This window displays all relevant fields for that device and their current setting. These fields can be changed to alter the behavior of the device, sometimes dramatically. Several fields effect how the device interacts with the power network. Two fields are common to all powered devices and are described below.
Deconstructor
DESIGN
The editor tutorial describes how to place and wire submarine components. This section will cover what to consider when designing a submarine and solutions to common problems.
The primary purpose of a power network is to provide a stable level of voltage. Low levels cause erratic function or even no function at all, while high levels short out junction boxes and thus cause a total loss of voltage. The challenge in providing a stable voltage is that power and load change over time. Load can shift up and down very rapidly as devices turn on, off, or vary their output. Power is significantly more restricted as the reactor can only adjust so quickly. Understanding what causes voltage to change is key to designing a robust power network.
Consider the different devices on a submarine and how they are typically used. Crew do not usually coordinate power usage as there are almost always more immediately vital tasks to perform. Crew will use power according to their immediate needs and this must be accounted for. Always keep in mind the difference between static (constant) load and dynamic (changing) load: static is safe, dynamic is dangerous.
Example
OVERVIEW
There are three key concepts to understanding the Barotrauma power network: Power, Load and Voltage.
Power is all energy contributed to the power network. Load is the sum total of all power consumption. Some devices can toggle their load, and some can vary it along a range.
Voltage is power divided by load. 1000kw power / 1000kw load = 1 voltage. Devices function or fail depending on the current voltage level. Voltage can cause issues if it is too high or too low.
Power does not cause problems. Load does not cause problems. A significant difference between power and load causes problems.
DEVICES
A powered device is any placeable ship component that interacts with the power network. There are several such devices, each with their own purpose and tweakables. Whenever a powered device (most of the Machine tab and some of the Electrical tab) is selected in the editor, an additional GUI element appears at the top of the screen. This window displays all relevant fields for that device and their current setting. These fields can be changed to alter the behavior of the device, sometimes dramatically. Several fields effect how the device interacts with the power network. Two fields are common to all powered devices and are described below.
- MinVoltage: lowest voltage at which this device functions.
- PowerConsumption: amount of load contributed by this device.
Deconstructor
Spoiler
Engine
Spoiler
Fabricator
Spoiler
MiniMap
Spoiler
Navigation Terminal
Spoiler
Nuclear Reactor
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Oxygen Generator
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Pump
Spoiler
Railgun
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Sonar Monitor
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Battery
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Junction Box
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Lamp
Spoiler
Supercapacitor
Spoiler
DESIGN
The editor tutorial describes how to place and wire submarine components. This section will cover what to consider when designing a submarine and solutions to common problems.
The primary purpose of a power network is to provide a stable level of voltage. Low levels cause erratic function or even no function at all, while high levels short out junction boxes and thus cause a total loss of voltage. The challenge in providing a stable voltage is that power and load change over time. Load can shift up and down very rapidly as devices turn on, off, or vary their output. Power is significantly more restricted as the reactor can only adjust so quickly. Understanding what causes voltage to change is key to designing a robust power network.
Consider the different devices on a submarine and how they are typically used. Crew do not usually coordinate power usage as there are almost always more immediately vital tasks to perform. Crew will use power according to their immediate needs and this must be accounted for. Always keep in mind the difference between static (constant) load and dynamic (changing) load: static is safe, dynamic is dangerous.
Example
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Scenario
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