Umair Gaines
In the game Factorio, players can build electric poles to supply electricity to structures. There are three types of electric poles: small, medium, and big. Small electric poles are the first tier and can supply electricity to a 6x6 area with a reach of 8.5 tiles. Medium electric poles are an improved version with a larger coverage range and wire reach, but they require more expensive resources to produce. Big electric poles offer the longest wire reach but a very short supply area, making them ideal for long-distance power lines. Players can use copper wire and wood to build power poles, and pressing shift while building electric poles will prevent them from automatically connecting to other poles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Building material | Copper wire and wood |
| Small electric pole coverage range | 6 x 6 tiles |
| Small electric pole wire reach | 8.5 tiles |
| Medium electric pole coverage range | 7 x 7 tiles |
| Medium electric pole wire reach | 9 tiles |
| Big electric pole coverage range | 4 x 4 tiles |
| Big electric pole wire reach | 32 tiles |
| Building multiple electric poles | Hold shift to build without connections |
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What You'll Learn
Building without connections
Building electric poles in Factorio without any connections is possible. To do this, simply press and hold the shift key while building the electric pole. This method works for both medium and big electric poles.
The small electric pole is the first tier of electric pole in Factorio. It can supply electricity to a 6x6 area and has a reach of 8.5 tiles. To craft a small electric pole, you will need 2 wood, 2 copper wire, and 0.5 seconds.
The medium electric pole is an improved version of the small electric pole, offering superior performance in all regards. It requires slightly more expensive resources to produce. The medium electric pole has a coverage range of 7x7 tiles and a wire reach of 9 tiles.
The big electric pole is a specialized variant of the medium electric pole, offering the longest wire reach of all the electric poles in the game. It has a coverage range of 4x4 tiles and a wire reach of 32 tiles. Due to its long wire reach and short supply area, the big electric pole is ideal for long-distance power lines.
It is worth noting that the maximum wire distance between poles is limited to the smallest pole's reach when manually connecting. Additionally, electric poles can now auto-connect to all poles within reach that do not share a common neighbor.
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Using copper wire and wood
To build with electric poles in Factorio, you'll need to understand the different types of electric poles available and the resources required to craft them. The three main types of electric poles in Factorio are small, medium, and big electric poles, each with varying capabilities and resource requirements.
The medium electric pole is an improved version of the small electric pole, offering increased wire reach and a larger powered area. It requires slightly more expensive resources to produce, including copper, steel, and iron bars. The medium electric pole can supply electricity to a 7x7 area and has a wire reach of 9 tiles. It also has the ability to carry signals for the circuit network.
While the big electric pole uses copper, steel, and iron bars, it is not known if it uses copper plates or copper cables. The big electric pole is a specialized variant, offering the longest wire reach of 32 tiles among all the electric poles. This makes it ideal for long-distance power transmission. However, it has a very short supply area of 4x4 tiles, making it generally unsuitable for providing local coverage to groups of structures.
When manually connecting electric poles, it's important to note that the maximum wire distance between poles is limited to the smallest pole's reach. Additionally, electric poles will automatically connect to all poles within reach that do not share a common neighbour. By using copper wire and wood, you can primarily craft the small electric pole, which is an effective option for supplying electricity to a moderate area.
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Electric pole tiers
In Factorio, there are three types of electric poles: small, medium, and big. Each type has different characteristics, such as wire reach and supply area, which determine their suitability for different applications.
The small electric pole is the basic type available at the beginning of the game. It has a short wire reach of 7.5 tiles and a small supply area of 5x5 tiles. While it can carry signals for the circuit network, it is typically replaced by medium electric poles later in the game.
The medium electric pole is an improved version of the small pole, offering superior performance in all regards. It has a longer wire reach of 9 tiles and a larger supply area of 7x7 tiles. This pole is a good all-rounder, capable of balancing reach and supply area effectively. It also carries signals for the circuit network and can be used to connect to other medium and big power poles.
The big electric pole is a specialised variant designed for long-distance power transmission. It boasts the longest wire reach of all the poles, at 32 tiles, but has a very short supply area of 4x4 tiles. This makes it ideal for spanning long distances with minimal entity placement but less suitable for providing local coverage to groups of structures. Like the other poles, it can carry signals for the circuit network.
When building electric poles, pressing the shift key will build the pole without any connections. Additionally, poles will automatically connect to all poles in reach with no common neighbour. The maximum wire distance between poles is limited to the smallest pole when manually connecting them.
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Supply area and size
When it comes to building with electric poles in Factorio, the supply area and size are crucial considerations. Electric poles in Factorio come in different types, each with its own unique coverage range and wire reach. Understanding these factors will help you optimize your power distribution and ensure your machines have the electricity they need to function effectively.
The small electric pole is the first tier of the electric pole in Factorio. It has a coverage range of 6x6 tiles and a wire reach of 7.5 to 8.5 tiles. Small electric poles are the most cost-effective option and are essential in the early game when resources are limited. They are crafted using raw wood and copper wire, making them easily accessible. However, as your factory expands, the limitations of small electric poles may become more apparent.
The medium electric pole is an improved version, offering a larger coverage range of 7x7 tiles and a wire reach of 9 tiles. It strikes a balance between coverage and wire reach, making it a versatile option. Medium electric poles are ideal for mid-game when you need to replace small poles and provide power to a larger square area while reducing the overall number of poles required.
The big electric pole is a specialized variant that offers the longest wire reach of 32 tiles among all electric poles but has a very short supply area of 4x4 tiles. Big electric poles are perfect for long-distance power lines, requiring fewer entities to be placed over a given distance. However, they are generally not suitable for providing local coverage to groups of structures due to their limited supply area.
It's important to note that the choice between small, medium, and big electric poles depends on your specific needs and the stage of your factory's development. Small poles are cost-effective and ideal for the early game, while medium poles offer improved coverage for mid-game upgrades. Big poles excel at covering long distances with their extended wire reach, making them suitable for connecting camps or areas where you need to minimize the number of poles. Additionally, big poles offer the advantage of reduced clutter and fewer points of failure due to their wider spacing.
By carefully considering the supply area and size of each type of electric pole, you can make informed decisions about your power distribution network in Factorio, ensuring your machines have the power they need to function efficiently.
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Wire reach
In Factorio, the wire reach of electric poles varies depending on the type of pole being used. The big electric pole offers the longest wire reach of all the electric poles, with a range of 30 to 32 tiles. This makes it ideal for long-distance power lines as it requires the smallest number of entities to be placed to span a given distance. However, it is generally unsuitable for providing local coverage to groups of structures due to its very short supply area.
The medium electric pole is a versatile option, offering decent wire reach, supply area, and size. Its wire reach is 9 tiles, and it can also carry signals for the circuit network. This makes it a good all-rounder for players who want a balance between wire reach and supply area.
The maximum wire distance between poles is limited to the smallest pole's range when manually connecting them. Players can use red wires to connect devices to a red circuit network and extend the connection over longer distances.
Players can also modify the wire reach of electric poles by editing specific game files. For example, by locating the data-final-fixes.lua file in the mod folder and adding a line of code to change the maximum wire distance for big electric poles. Alternatively, players can create their own mod to make these adjustments, which offers a more "correct" way of modifying the game.
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Frequently asked questions
You need copper wire and wood to build power poles.
The small electric pole is the first tier of the electric pole. It can supply electricity on a 6x6 area and has a reach of 8.5 tiles. It takes 2 wood, 2 copper wire and 0.5 seconds to craft.
Building electric poles with the shift key pressed builds them without any connections.
