Otis Singleton
The number of electric furnaces required for a red belt depends on the level of compression and the type of furnace. For example, one user reported needing 128 electric furnaces for their iron smelting setup, which consisted of 4 fully compressed red belts feeding 4 banks of 32 furnaces. Another user reported that they needed 64 electric furnaces to compress a red belt of copper plates, with 32 furnaces on each side of the belt. However, others have suggested that the number of furnaces required may be lower, with one source stating that only 48 or 24 electric furnaces are needed for a red belt when smelting copper, iron, or stone. To achieve full saturation, the number of furnaces may vary depending on the level of belt compression and the efficiency of the furnace, so it is important to consider these factors when determining the appropriate number of electric furnaces for a red belt.
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What You'll Learn
Stone vs. Electric Furnaces
When it comes to smelting in Factorio, players have a few options for furnaces: Stone, Steel, and Electric. Each type has its own advantages and considerations, and the decision to use one over the others depends on the player's preferences, resources, and stage of the game.
Stone furnaces are the most basic type available in the game. They have a crafting speed of 1, which is half that of Steel and Electric furnaces. To saturate a red belt, 96 stone furnaces are needed (48 per side). Stone furnaces require coal as fuel, which can add complexity to the logistics of your factory. However, they are sufficient for early game smelting and can be upgraded to steel or electric furnaces later on.
Electric furnaces have a crafting speed of 2, matching that of Steel furnaces. For a red belt, 48 electric furnaces are required (24 per side). One of the main advantages of electric furnaces is their convenience—they do not require fuel to be brought to them, as they use electricity. This simplifies layouts and logistics. Additionally, electric furnaces have module slots, which can provide extra productivity and speed in the endgame. However, some players opt to wait until they have access to modules and beacons before using electric furnaces, as the difference in efficiency is small, and steel furnaces can be more fuel-efficient.
In terms of fuel efficiency, Steel furnaces consume less fuel than electric furnaces. Electric furnaces produce slightly more pollution (0.2% more) and require twice as much fuel. However, with solar or nuclear power, electric furnaces can result in net fuel savings. Steel furnaces are also more compact, allowing more to be placed in the same space.
The decision to use stone or electric furnaces depends on various factors. For players who want a more compact setup and are willing to manage fuel logistics, stone furnaces can be a good choice. On the other hand, electric furnaces offer convenience and simplified logistics, making them attractive to players who want to avoid the hassle of fuel transportation. Ultimately, personal playstyle and in-game resources will influence the choice between stone and electric furnaces for smelting in Factorio.
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Belt compression
The number of electric furnaces required to fill a red belt depends on the type of furnace and the resource being smelted. For example, with Stone Furnaces, you need 468 (234 per side) for a Red Belt when smelting steel. However, Steel and Electric Furnaces have double the smelting speed, so you only need half the amount, or 236 (118 per side) for a Red Belt.
For Iron or Copper smelting, the ratio is different. With Stone Furnaces, you need 96 (48 per side) for a Red Belt. Again, due to their faster smelting speed, Steel and Electric Furnaces require half the amount, so 48 (24 per side) for a Red Belt.
It's important to note that belt compression may not always be fully achieved, and some players report issues with getting a fully compressed belt of output even with the theoretically required number of furnaces. In these cases, adding speed modules to the electric furnaces can help boost their performance and achieve full belt compression.
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Speed modules
The number of electric furnaces required to fill a red belt depends on the type of furnace and whether speed modules are used. Steel and electric furnaces have the same smelting speed, which is twice that of a stone furnace. Therefore, the number of furnaces required for a red belt with stone furnaces is double that of steel or electric furnaces.
Without using speed modules, you would need 47 or 48 steel or electric furnaces to fill a red belt. However, if you use speed modules, you can reduce the number of furnaces required. For example, by placing two speed module 3s in each electric furnace, you can achieve a 100% speed boost. In this case, you would need 32 electric furnaces with two Level 2 Speed Modules each to almost fill a blue belt.
Another option is to use rank 1 speed modules. With these modules, you would need around 52 electric furnaces to consume all the ore from an express belt. This setup would result in a similar output to using 72 electric furnaces without speed modules.
It is worth noting that the number of furnaces may vary depending on the specific game version and setup. Additionally, the belt compression ratio can impact the efficiency of transporting items, and fully compressing a belt may require specific design considerations.
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Energy efficiency
Electric furnaces are an excellent choice for energy efficiency, as they have a crafting speed of 2, producing 1 iron/copper plate every 1.6 seconds. This means that an electric furnace will yield 0.625 copper plates per second, significantly reducing production time. With this increased crafting speed, you need fewer furnaces to achieve the same output as stone furnaces. For example, you would need 48 stone furnaces to fill a yellow belt, but only 24 electric furnaces to achieve the same output.
Additionally, electric furnaces become even more efficient when used with modules and beacons. While the numbers change when introducing these elements, electric furnaces remain a more efficient option. For instance, with speed modules, 32 electric furnaces with 2 Level 2 Speed Modules each will almost fill a blue belt to 100%. This setup can significantly enhance your production capabilities.
To further optimise your energy efficiency, consider the layout of your furnaces. Place your smelting columns close to ore patches to reduce transportation distances and improve efficiency. Additionally, ensure a one-tile gap for inserters and use splitters to manage ore and coal distribution effectively. By combining electric furnaces with strategic layout designs, you can maximise your energy efficiency and optimise your Factorio base.
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Furnace ratios
For stone furnaces, you need 96 furnaces (48 per side) to completely saturate a red belt. This is based on smelting copper, iron, or stone, where the furnace speed is half that of a steel or electric furnace. Therefore, for steel or electric furnaces, you would need half the number, which is 48 furnaces (24 per side).
However, some players have reported different ratios based on their experiences. One player mentioned using 32 electric furnaces (16 on each side of a red belt) for copper plate production, but they were unable to achieve full compression. Another player with a similar setup for iron smelting reported success with 128 electric furnaces (32 per side for 4 red belts).
It's worth noting that the use of speed modules can significantly impact the required furnace ratio. For example, with 32 electric furnaces equipped with 2 Level 2 Speed Modules each, you can almost fill a blue belt to 100%. But this also requires a fully compressed blue belt of ore feeding them.
To achieve full compression, it's important to consider belt ratios and ensure that the furnaces are adequately fed. The input-to-output ratio affects the number of furnaces that can be supplied by a belt. For example, an express belt can feed 72 electric furnaces for copper or iron plate production.
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Frequently asked questions
48 electric furnaces are needed for a red belt.
24 electric furnaces are needed for a yellow belt.
70 electric furnaces are needed for a blue belt.
The ratio of electric furnaces to belts is 1:2 for a yellow belt, 1:1 for a red belt, and 2:3 for a blue belt.
