IC2 Help

[Ganoly3]

So far, I have been using TE for pretty much everything, and I thought that I should try getting into IC2. As of right now, I have 6 solar panels feeding an MFE, which then connects to an LV transformer that outputs to 2 batboxes. These batboxes then connect to a couple machines via copper cabling. I have 2 questions:

1.At this point in time, should I be worried about power loss from the copper cables? I plan on adding many more machines in the future.
2. Would having a gigantic solar panel farm be a good way for obtaining EU?

Two pictures of my setup are attached. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[CrafterOfMines57]

You probably should not be worried about cable loss, and if you don't have GregTech installed, solar is probably the easiest form of power generation.

 

[OmegaPython]

Solars do create free energy, but keep in mind they on produce 1 EU per tick. Even basic Generators produce 10 EU per tick. Also, why the 2 batboxes?

 

[MrCervelo]

Power loss over Copper Cables in basic IC2 only kicks in after 5 blocks.

If you make a lot of solar panels (assuming you have the mod installed), upgrade them to LV Solar Array (requires 8 Solar Panels, produces 8 EU/tick), you'll need to use Copper Cable to carry their output though.

 

[Velotican]

For IC2, although power loss is an issue, so long as you are sending full packets through cables you won't have power loss issues unless you really heavily tax a specific section of your power grid or have ridiculous distances between your power plant and your machines. You're using downvolted MV so you'll be absolutely fine.

For long-distance the most reliable cable is glass-fiber cable, which is actually the best cable in general other than GregTech's superconductor if you happen to have that. It's also by far the most expensive which figures.

To avoid lag, use upgraded solar panels rather than a solar farm. A single Ultimate Hybrid Solar Panel gives you instant HV and four of them totally outclass a Nuclear Reactor. If anything solar power is too powerful in IC2, which is both a good and bad thing depending on how you look at it.

 

[Hitmaniac]

I tend to stay away from Solar Panels. I don't think it is fun to hook like 10 Hybrid/Ultimate Solar Panels up and get free EU but if that is your thing, go ahead.

 

[Vtecem]

According to that setup, the solar panels are inputting to both the MFE and the Batboxes at the same time. The 3 dotted side of the LVT is the input, so you should have it pointing to the output of the MFE. Just be careful when you turn the LVT because it'll output 32EU/t into those tin cables and fry them. If you want to have the MFE feed it, move 2 of your panels away and just have 1 tin cable feeding into the MFE. It will work either way, but the MFE doesn't look like it's outputting at all into those batboxes. I'm going off of the second screenshot where I can see the 3 dotted side pointing at the tin cables.

If you ever get to the point where you're stretching more than 5 cable lengths from the batboxes/MFE you can just add another transformer into the line and it'll act like a hub and extend the length. Alternately, you can just upgrade to fiber cables when you get the diamonds and silver/electrum going.'

Edit:

Just looked again and you have a block gap between the solars and that LVT, just remove the tin cable into the LVT and turn it towards the MFE.

 

[Ganoly3]

Solars do create free energy, but keep in mind they on produce 1 EU per tick. Even basic Generators produce 10 EU per tick. Also, why the 2 batboxes?

I have 2 batboxes because I like to charge multiple things at once. Dont like waiting for just one thing to recharge.[DOUBLEPOST=1360530057][/DOUBLEPOST]

According to that setup, the solar panels are inputting to both the MFE and the Batboxes at the same time. The 3 dotted side of the LVT is the input, so you should have it pointing to the output of the MFE. Just be careful when you turn the LVT because it'll output 32EU/t into those tin cables and fry them. If you want to have the MFE feed it, move 2 of your panels away and just have 1 tin cable feeding into the MFE. It will work either way, but the MFE doesn't look like it's outputting at all into those batboxes. I'm going off of the second screenshot where I can see the 3 dotted side pointing at the tin cables.

If you ever get to the point where you're stretching more than 5 cable lengths from the batboxes/MFE you can just add another transformer into the line and it'll act like a hub and extend the length. Alternately, you can just upgrade to fiber cables when you get the diamonds and silver/electrum going.'

Edit:

Just looked again and you have a block gap between the solars and that LVT, just remove the tin cable into the LVT and turn it towards the MFE.

Alright thanks! I'll try that. I was experiencing troubles with that before, so thanks for clearing it up.[DOUBLEPOST=1360530111][/DOUBLEPOST]

For IC2, although power loss is an issue, so long as you are sending full packets through cables you won't have power loss issues unless you really heavily tax a specific section of your power grid or have ridiculous distances between your power plant and your machines. You're using downvolted MV so you'll be absolutely fine.

For long-distance the most reliable cable is glass-fiber cable, which is actually the best cable in general other than GregTech's superconductor if you happen to have that. It's also by far the most expensive which figures.

To avoid lag, use upgraded solar panels rather than a solar farm. A single Ultimate Hybrid Solar Panel gives you instant HV and four of them totally outclass a Nuclear Reactor. If anything solar power is too powerful in IC2, which is both a good and bad thing depending on how you look at it.

I am using the DW20 pack, so i believe that the highest i can go is a HV Solar Array. Is this fine?

 

[Velotican]

HV Solar Arrays are identical to Ultimate Hybrid Solar Panels except that the latter works at a reduced rate at night, so yes that's fine.

 

[Vtecem]

Yes, the LV,MV,HV solar arrays are just compressed versions of the solar panel. So an HV solar array will require 1024 solar panels.

 

[slay_mithos]

8*8*8=512 solar panels per HV.
That is also the amount of EU per tick.

As for power sources, you might want to later invest into a nuclear reactor, because these can produce great deal of EU, at a big initial cost, and they basically run on uranium.

 

[Vtecem]

You're right, I was going off the top of my head, which was too high obviously ;P