Molly Ayala
In Factorio, electricity is used to power a lot of different machines, and the game can hardly be played without it. There are several ways to produce electricity, including steam engines, solar panels, steam turbines, and lightning rods, among others. To check your electricity usage, you can click on any power pole of your electric network, and a window will pop up showing how much power you are currently generating and consuming. The power graph is kept separately for each power network, and you can create separate power networks by having power poles that don't connect to each other.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to check electricity usage | Click on any power pole of your electric network |
| Power graph | Separate for each power network |
| Power consumption | Depends on the number of solar panels and steam engines multiplied by the max output of a single panel or engine |
| Power sources in order | Solar, steam, and then accumulators |
| Power production | Steam engines, solar panels, steam turbines, lightning rods and lightning collectors, fusion generators |
| Fuel energy | Depends on the power rating of the vehicle or building |
| Active power consumption | Appliances have a drain, the power they consume even when not working as long as they're connected to the power network |
| Electric network | Does not produce pollution |
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What You'll Learn
Click on a power pole to view usage
To check your electricity usage in Factorio, you can click on a power pole to view the Electric network info GUI. This will show you the info from the electric network that the pole is connected to.
The Electric network info GUI provides information on the current amount of energy consumed by the network, the current energy produced by the network, and the accumulator charge. The accumulator charge indicates how much energy is currently stored in the accumulators connected to your network.
It's important to note that the power graph is kept separately for each power network. You can create separate power networks by having power poles that are not connected to each other.
By clicking on a power pole, you can also see how much power each machine is consuming and the total power production of your engines. This information can help you manage your power usage and ensure that your machines are receiving sufficient power.
Power poles are essential in transmitting energy across your base. They come in four types, each with different properties, including coverage area and wire reach. The coverage area refers to the zone where machines can be placed to receive power from the pole, while wire reach determines the distance across which two poles can connect.
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View the electricity bar
To check your electricity usage in Factorio, you can view the electricity bar. This bar represents your electricity production and consumption. If the bar is not full, you are not producing enough electricity to meet the demand. Conversely, if the bar is full, your electricity production is meeting 100% of the demand.
To view the electricity bar, you can click on any power pole in your electric network. This will bring up a window that displays your current electricity generation and usage. The window will also show how much power each machine is consuming and the total power being produced by your engines.
It is important to note that the power graph is specific to each power network. If you have multiple power networks, you will need to click on a power pole in each network to view its respective electricity bar and usage details.
Additionally, the electricity bar may be confusing at first glance. It is recommended to hover over a factory to view its electricity bar and understand the relationship between production and consumption. Understanding this relationship will help you manage your electricity usage effectively in the game.
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Calculate usage with solar panels and steam engines
Solar panels are computationally efficient as they don't require extensive calculations like nuclear power. They convert sunlight into electricity and are an infinite source of energy. However, they only produce power during the day, so you'll need a backup source of power for the night. This is where steam engines come in.
Steam engines can be used as a backup power source to solar panels. Boilers convert the chemical energy of fuel into heat, which is then transferred to water to produce steam. The steam engines then turn the energy stored in the steam into electricity. To calculate your electricity usage when using solar panels and steam engines in Factorio, you can follow these steps:
- Determine your power requirements: Figure out how much power your factory requires. This can be done by clicking on any power pole in your electric network, which will bring up a window displaying your power consumption.
- Calculate the power output of solar panels: Solar panels have a default power output of 60 kW. You can calculate the total power output by multiplying this value by the number of solar panels you have.
- Determine the number of accumulators needed: Accumulators store excess solar power for later use. The optimal ratio of accumulators to solar panels depends on various factors, including power generation of the solar panel, energy storage of the accumulator, and the length of day and night. A "close enough" ratio is 20:24:1 accumulators to solar panels to megawatts required. For example, to power a factory requiring 10 MW, you would need approximately 200 accumulators and 240 solar panels.
- Calculate the power output of steam engines: Each boiler can produce 1200 water per second, which is enough to power 20 boilers and 40 steam engines. The power output of the steam engines will depend on the number of boilers and steam engines you have.
- Determine the fuel requirements: Steam engines can be fuelled by coal, solid fuel, or uranium fuel cells. Ensure a steady supply of fuel to meet the demands of your steam engines.
- Monitor power usage: Keep an eye on your power usage by regularly checking the power pole window. This will help you identify if you need to adjust your setup by adding more solar panels, accumulators, or steam engines.
By following these steps and understanding the ratios between solar panels, accumulators, and steam engines, you can effectively calculate and manage your electricity usage in Factorio.
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Check fuel consumption
To check fuel consumption in Factorio, you can monitor the amount of steam in a storage tank, which indicates the need for more fuel for reactors. This can be done by setting up a timer to trigger the inserter every 200 seconds to avoid overloading the steam tank. Additionally, limiting inserters to only insert one fuel cell at a time is recommended, especially if stack upgrades have been researched.
Another way to check fuel consumption is by observing the power poles in your electric network. Clicking on any power pole will display a window with information about your power consumption and production. This method provides a detailed breakdown of how much power each machine or vehicle is consuming and how much power your engines are generating.
It's important to note that different fuels provide varying amounts of energy, measured in megajoules (MJ). The fuel energy of a unit of fuel determines its consumption rate, which is generally proportional to the power rating of the machine or vehicle using it. For example, a car with a power rating of 250 kW will consume 250 kJ of fuel per second while accelerating or driving at maximum speed.
Additionally, boilers consume fuel based on their load, which is the rate of steam being carried away, up to their maximum power rating. Nuclear reactors, on the other hand, consume uranium fuel cells at a constant rate of 40 MW as long as they have fuel available.
By understanding these fuel consumption rates and monitoring your power poles and steam storage tanks, you can effectively manage your fuel usage and ensure your machines and vehicles are operating efficiently in Factorio.
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Compare electricity production to demand
To compare electricity production to demand in Factorio, you can access the power graph by clicking on any power pole of your electric network. This will bring up a window displaying information about your power grid.
The power graph shows the current production and consumption of electricity in your network. It is important to note that the graph represents separate power networks, so if you have multiple power poles that are not connected, each will have its own graph. The graph will indicate whether you have a power surplus or deficit, allowing you to adjust your electricity production accordingly.
The production tab in the Electric network information display will show how much power is being produced at the moment by each device, with the sum total being the production value. This value can be compared to the satisfaction value, which represents the power needed to run all your machines.
Additionally, the consumption tab will show how much power is being consumed by each type of device, allowing you to identify areas where you may need to reduce electricity usage or increase production.
You can also calculate your power usage by hand. For example, if you have an assembling machine 3 (210kW) and an electric mining drill (90kW) on a network, you will need 300kW in total (210kW + 90kW). If you only have 3 solar panels, each producing 60kW, your total power generation is 180kW (3 x 60kW). This means your machines will run at 60% speed (180kW / 300kW = 0.6).
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Frequently asked questions
To check your total electricity usage, click on any power pole in your electric network. This will bring up a window that displays your power consumption.
The screen will show how much power your engines are currently producing and how much each connected machine is consuming. It will also indicate whether you are producing enough power to meet demand.
When the electricity bar on the screen is full, your power production has reached its maximum capacity. If the bar is not full, you are not producing enough power to meet the demand of your machines.
