Beatrice Lang
In Factorio, electricity is essential for powering machinery. The Electric Network Info GUI provides insights into the performance of your electric network, including the current energy consumption and production. This guide can be accessed by left-clicking on any electric pole, although some players have suggested adding a hotkey for convenience. Understanding the electric network info is crucial for optimising your factory's performance, as it helps you manage power generation, distribution, and machine slowdown. Factorio offers various methods for electricity generation, including steam power, solar power, and nuclear power, each with its advantages and complexities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to view electric network info | Click on the Main Hub where the lightning bolt icon is located or place a power pole on the platform and click on it. |
| How to access the Electric Network Info GUI | Left-click any electric pole nearby |
| How to view production info | Press P |
| What to do if there is no hotkey for the Electric Network Info panel | Click on a Small electric pole |
| Alternative to the above | Use the L key to see a dropdown of all networks |
| First type of electricity accessed in Factorio | Steam Power |
| Second type of electricity accessed in Factorio | Solar Power |
| Third type of electricity accessed in Factorio | Nuclear Power |
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What You'll Learn
Click on the lightning bolt icon in the hub menu
To view electric network information in Factorio, one method is to click on the lightning bolt icon in the hub menu. This icon is small and easy to miss, but it provides a convenient way to access the electric network info GUI.
The electric network info GUI can also be accessed by left-clicking on any electric pole nearby. This method is useful if you want to view the electric network information for a specific pole. When you click on a pole, you will see a detailed GUI about that particular pole's electric network. This includes information such as the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network.
Additionally, you can use the shift-click function on an existing pole to remove all its connections to other poles. If you need to connect unconnected poles, you can use the copper wire tool from the shortcut bar by dragging from one pole to another.
By utilising these tools and functions, players can effectively manage their electric networks and ensure their machines have sufficient power to function optimally in the game.
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Place a power pole on the platform
Placing a power pole on the platform in Factorio is a straightforward process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure optimal placement and functionality. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Understand the Basics
Power poles are essential for distributing electricity to machines and buildings in Factorio. They come in different types, such as small electric poles and medium power poles, each with its own coverage area. This area is indicated by a blue overlay around the pole when you place it. Power poles automatically connect to nearby poles, ensuring electricity reaches various parts of your factory.
Step 2: Plan Your Placement
Consider the layout of your factory and the machines you need to power. Power poles have a maximum connection distance, and they won't connect to more than five other poles. If you're placing multiple power poles, the game will automatically place the new pole at the maximum distance from the closest existing pole. However, you can use the CTRL/ALT keys to achieve tighter pole autoplacement, ensuring complete coverage.
Step 3: Place the Power Pole
To place a power pole, simply left-click on the desired location while holding the place key (default left mouse button). If you're running or driving, you can auto-place poles at their greatest connectible distance by using the place key while moving. This is especially useful for connecting long distances and ensuring all unpowered entities along the way are covered. You can also use copper wire to connect unconnected poles manually.
Step 4: Check Connections
Once you've placed your power pole, check its connections. Hovering your cursor over the pole will show the current satisfaction of power demands in its network. If two poles are close enough, they will connect automatically. You can also left-click on a power pole to access detailed information about its electric network, including satisfaction and production. This information is specific to that particular network, as each power pole belongs to a single network.
By following these steps, you can effectively place power poles on your platform in Factorio, ensuring a steady supply of electricity to your machines and buildings. Remember to plan your placement carefully and utilize the provided tools and information to create an efficient power network.
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Click on the Main Hub to view the power symbol
To view electric network information in Factorio, you can access the Electric network info GUI by clicking on any electric pole nearby. This will display the info from the electric network that the pole is connected to.
Alternatively, you can also click on the Main Hub to view the power symbol. This is done by clicking on the Main Hub where the Production menu is located. There will be a small icon with a lightning bolt or power symbol, which you can click on to view the electric network information.
While the above methods are possible, some players prefer to place a power pole or two on the platform, as it provides something that can be easily clicked on. This is especially useful for wiring circuit components, although it is not necessary.
It is worth noting that each power pole can only belong to one network, so clicking on a specific power pole will specify which electric network you want to inspect.
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Use the 'P' key to view production info
The Factorio production screen is a window that shows details about the rate at which your factory produces and consumes items. To access this screen, you can press the 'P' key in-game or via a button above the minimap. On the Nintendo Switch, the GUI can be opened via a button in the quick panel.
The production screen includes graphs that show how the production and consumption rates have changed over time. By default, the graphs show statistics for the current surface, including planets and space platforms. However, you can also check the “Global Statistics” option to display the total statistics of all corresponding items in the game.
The production screen has several tabs that provide different types of information. The default "Items" tab shows how many of a given product have been produced and consumed through assemblers, chemical plants, etc. The "Fluids" tab is similar, but it displays produced and consumed fluids, including steam and oil-related fluids. The "Buildings" tab gives an overview of the buildings the player has recently placed or deconstructed, and the "Pollution" tab shows the rate of pollution production and absorption over time.
The timescale of the production screen can be adjusted to view data over different periods, including 5 seconds, 1 minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour, 10 hours, 50 hours, 250 hours, 1000 hours, or all-time. It's important to note that at low timescales, the rate shown may be inaccurate due to the small number of items sampled.
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Use the 'L' key to view a dropdown of electric networks
To view electric network information in Factorio, you can click on a power pole to inspect the electric network it belongs to. However, if you want to use a hotkey to access the Electric Network Info panel, you can use the "L" key to view a dropdown of all the electric networks. This will allow you to quickly access the information without having to click on a specific power pole.
The "L" key hotkey is especially useful when there are multiple electric networks present, as it provides a convenient way to switch between different networks without having to click on individual power poles. By pressing the "L" key, you can easily navigate through the dropdown list and select the desired network to inspect.
While the "L" key hotkey provides quick access to the Electric Network Info panel, some players have expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the dropdown list. The list may display network identifiers like "Network #6 - 21 cells," which may not provide enough information to easily identify the specific network.
Despite this, the "L" key hotkey remains a valuable tool for players who want a faster and more direct way to access electric network information without relying solely on clicking power poles. It is worth noting that the availability and functionality of hotkeys may vary depending on the version of Factorio or any modifications installed.
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Frequently asked questions
You can access the Electric Network Info GUI by left-clicking on any electric pole nearby.
The GUI displays the current amount of energy consumed by the network, as well as the current energy produced. If the network is consuming more power than is produced, the satisfaction bar will not be full.
If an electric network does not have enough power, the electricity will be distributed evenly across all machines in the network, and all machines will slow down proportionally to the power available.
There are several ways to produce electricity in Factorio, including steam engines, solar panels, steam turbines, and fusion generators. Steam power is the first type of electricity you'll have access to, followed by solar power, and then nuclear power.
Yes, there is a mod called "Electric Network Info Hotkey" that allows you to open the Electric Network Info GUI via a keyboard hotkey, without having to click on a power pole.
