Factorio Electrical Network: Visualizing Power Flow

how to view electrical network in factorio

In Factorio, most machines consume electricity. To view the electrical network, you can click on any power pole of your electric network, and a window will pop up. This will allow you to view the power consumption on your power grid. Hovering the cursor over a pole will also report the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network. Clicking on a pole will provide a detailed GUI about that pole's electric network. It is important to note that each power pole can only belong to one network, and clicking on a pole specifies which electric network you want to inspect.

Characteristics Values
How to view power consumption Click on any power pole of your electric network and a window should pop up
How to view the electric network info panel Click on a small electric pole
How to view separate electric networks On the "maxi"-map, enable showing connected power poles via the buttons on the right
How to view all connections from a power pole Shift-click on the pole
How to connect wires or cables to a power pole Click on one entity, then on the base of the power pole
How to remove a wire or cable connection Place the same colour wire over an existing connection
How electricity is distributed across the network Electricity is distributed evenly across all machines in the network based on each machine's demand

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Click on a power pole to view the electric network

To view the electric network in Factorio, you can click on a power pole. This will provide you with a detailed GUI about that specific pole's electric network. By hovering your cursor over a power pole, you can also see the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network. The area of coverage of a power pole can be identified by a blue overlay around the pole.

If you want to remove all connections from a power pole, you can do so by shift-clicking on it. The first shift-click will remove all electrical connections, and if you shift-click again, all red and green wires will be removed. To connect wires or cables to a power pole, simply click on one entity and then on the base of the power pole.

It is important to note that if you have two power poles close enough to each other, they will automatically connect. Similarly, if a building has even one tile within the covered area of a power pole, it will be considered connected.

The Electric network info GUI provides information specific to the electric network that the pole is connected to. It includes details such as the current amount of energy consumed by the network, the current energy produced, and the charge of accumulators connected to the network.

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Use the 'L' key to view a dropdown of all networks

To view a dropdown of all electrical networks in Factorio, you can use the L key. This is a useful hotkey to quickly access information about your electrical networks.

While there is usually just one electrical network, there can be many different ones in a game of Factorio. Each power pole belongs to one network, and clicking on a power pole will let you inspect a specific network.

You can also access the Electric Network Info panel by clicking on a small electric pole. This will bring up a window with information about your power consumption and the power grid.

Additionally, hovering your cursor over a power pole will show the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network. Clicking on the pole will provide a detailed GUI with more information about the electric network.

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Hover over a pole to see current power demand satisfaction

Hovering the cursor over an electrical pole in Factorio will display the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network. This is shown in the form of a bar, which should ideally be full. If the bar is not full, it means that the machines connected to the network are consuming more power than is being produced. The bar will turn yellow if the satisfaction falls below 50% and red if it falls below 25%.

Hovering over a pole will also show the current energy production by the network, which is also represented as a bar. This bar should not be full, as it indicates that the machines connected to the network are consuming all the energy being produced. The more empty this bar is, the more surplus energy is available.

In addition to the above, clicking on a pole will provide a detailed GUI about that pole's electric network. This includes information such as the accumulator charge, or how much energy is currently held inside the accumulators connected to the network. This is measured in joules, with 1 Joule being equivalent to 1 Watt per second.

It is important to note that the electric network info is not measured globally but by network. This means that you can only see the information from the electric network to which the pole is connected.

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Use the 'maxi'-map to view connected power poles

To view connected power poles in Factorio, one method is to utilise the maxi-map. The maxi-map is a useful tool that provides a detailed view of your electrical network, helping you understand the power dynamics of your factory.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the maxi-map to view connected power poles:

  • Open the Maxi-Map: In Factorio, access the maxi-map by pressing the designated key, which is usually located near the minimap.
  • Understand the Colour Coding: Power poles in the maxi-map are colour-coded to provide essential information. Power poles will be highlighted with a blue overlay that indicates their area of coverage. The colour of this overlay may change to indicate the status of the power network.
  • Analyse the Network: Pay attention to the colour and size of the overlays. If the overlay is blue, it indicates normal operation, meaning the power demand is met. A yellow overlay indicates that power consumption is high, and a red overlay signifies that power demand exceeds production.
  • View Connected Poles: Power poles that are placed close enough to each other will automatically connect. These connections will be visible on the maxi-map as overlapping or adjacent blue areas.
  • Hover for Details: By hovering your cursor over a power pole, you can view additional information about that specific pole's network. This includes the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network.
  • Click for More Info: Clicking on a power pole will provide even more detailed information. This includes data on the current energy production, consumption, and accumulator charge within that pole's electric network.

Using the maxi-map in Factorio provides a strategic overview of your electrical network, helping you visualise connected power poles and make informed decisions about power distribution and optimisation within your factory.

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Use the debug overlay to view separate networks

To view separate networks in Factorio, you can use the debug overlay feature. Here's how to do it:

First, press F5 to toggle the debug mode. This will allow you to access the debug overlays. Then, press F4 to open the "Debug settings" menu. In this menu, you will find various options that you can configure according to your preferences.

To specifically view separate networks, pay attention to the wiring colours. Each connected set of wires forms a separate network, and wires of the same colour will share and sum their signals. For example, red wires form one network, and green wires form another. If you need to separate networks in close proximity, use different coloured cables.

To connect wires or cables to a power pole, simply click on one entity and then on the base of the power pole. To erase a wire or cable connection, place the same colour wire over an existing connection. You can also remove all connections from a power pole by shift-clicking on it.

Frequently asked questions

To view the electrical network in Factorio, click on any power pole in your electric network. This will bring up a window with information about the network.

Each power pole can only belong to one network. Hovering your cursor over a pole will show the current satisfaction of power demands in that pole's network.

To disconnect a power pole from the network, use the copper wire tool in the shortcut bar by dragging it from pole to pole. Alternatively, you can use shift-click on an existing pole to remove all its connections to other poles.

If one tile of the building is in a covered area, it is connected. The area of coverage appears as a blue overlay around the pole.

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