Power
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Power is the ability to generate electricity in order to enable electrical workbenches, lights, temperature control devices, automated defenses, and more. Access to power is crucial to survival, especially in late game. The success of a colony often relies upon a fault-tolerant power grid with a reliable power flow that ensures that your appliances are working at all times, especially in emergencies.
Power generators
Wind turbine
Wind turbines generate a variable amount of power directly proportional to the wind speed.
Solar generator
Fueled generator
Geothermal generator
The geothermal generator is a power generator that can be built on top of a steam geyser to convert natural heat into electrical power, providing a constant 3,600W. Steam geysers are randomly generated per map, sometimes close to each other, others scattered towards the edges or center. Colonies are often seen built in their proximity from early days for future benefit.
Ship reactor
Although it is a ship part and and not listed in the Power menu, the ship reactor is perfectly usable as a power generator. It provides 1000W, which is less than the maximum provided by any other power generator, though without their shortcomings or requirements; however, it is prohibitively expensive to build and use in most situations other than late-game. It provides power continually and can be placed on any buildable terrain where its 5x5 structure will fit. It must be researched before it can be built, but does not generate any heat nor require special venting.
Power generator summary
| Type | Cost | Size | Max Output (Watts) |
Variable Output |
Day | Night | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar |  100 3 |
4x4 | 1700 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | In sunlight |
| Wind Turbine | 100 2 |
5x2 | 3000 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | In open ground |
| Fueled generator | 100 2 |
2x2 | 1000 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Anywhere |
| Geothermal | 400 8 |
6x6 | 3600 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | On geysers |
| Ship reactor | 300 500 150 25 |
5x5 | 1000 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Outside (can roof over afterwards) |
Power transfers
Power conduit
A power conduit transmits power from generators or batteries to appliances up to six squares away. Conduit doesn't block the placement of other structures and isn't blocked by them, so conduit can be placed wherever it's needed, even in walls, except unsmoothed mountain rocks and ores.
Power switch
Power storage
Batteries
The most common use of a battery is to store energy from intermittent power generators like solar and wind. Without a battery, there will be no power at night from solar panels, and no power from wind turbines when there is no wind.
Charging Features
-A battery can only hold 1kWd (86.4MJ).
-Only 50% of the energy directed to the battery will be stored.
-If a power generator's output exceeds appliances' power consumption, excess power will be distributed evenly among all non-full connected batteries, charging all batteries at the same rate.
-Likewise, if power consumption exceeds power generation, all non-empty batteries will deplete at the same rate to fill the power gap.
Special Features
-Batteries can be moved by reinstalling them. They do not lose their charge during the move, making them a portable power source.
-When a charged battery is disconnected from the power grid, it doesn't lose its charge.
-Batteries can randomly short-circuit, discharging all connected batteries and starting a large fire.
-A disconnected battery is not affected by short circuits.
-A battery can be disconnected from the grid by reinstalling it away from the grid or by using a switch to isolate it from the grid.
-Battery fires produce extremely hot fires.
-Batteries are highly likely to catch fire in the rain.
Appliances
Appliances are structures or buildings that require power but don't transmit it. Most appliances don't require a direct power cable connection, they can be placed up to six squares away from a power cable or power source. When connected to the power grid, it can take a few moments before an appliance turns on.
Managing appliances
Reconnect: Click to force an appliance to reconnect to a conduit line or power source.
Designate toggle power: Click to mark an appliance to be turned on (✔) or off (X) by a colonist set to flick.
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Reconnect
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Designate toggle power
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Appliances summary
| Appliance | Power consumption (in Watts) |
|---|---|
| Autodoor | 50 |
| Electric tailor bench | 120 |
| Electric smithy | 210 |
| Machining table | 350 |
| Electric smelter | 700 |
| Electric crematorium | 250 |
| Nutrient paste dispenser | 200 |
| Standing lamp | 75 |
| Sun lamp | 1600 |
| Hydroponics basin | 70 |
| Comms console | 200 |
| Electric stove | 350 |
| Heater | 175 |
| Cooler | 200 |
| Improvised turret | 350 |
| Tube Television | 200 |
| Flatscreen Television | 150 |
| Megascreen Television | 220 |
- Power
- Power conduit (Hidden, Waterproof) • Power switch • Wood-fired generator • Chemfuel powered generator • Wind turbine
- (research)
- Battery • Geothermal generator • Solar generator • Watermill generator • Toxifier generator
• Bioferrite generator
- (uncraftable)
- Vanometric power cell • Unstable power cell
- Related
- Ship reactor • Electroharvester