Request:Simple Big Reactor on/off switch
- Thread starter mattp_12
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I like to use the EnderIO power monitor for this, using 1 redstone port on the reactor.
EnderIO has a Power Monitor that can be configured to emit redstone signal depending on the levels of attached capacitor banks. I use it quite regularly with power systems to conserve fuel when my banks are full. I usually have it kill my energy production around 90% and kick it back on once the capacitors are below 50%.
Otherwise, ComputerCraft is your answer. Several scripts exist (both in these forums, the CC forums, and Google) to do everything from monitor fuel efficiency, track usage patterns, and your requested kill switch. LUA can be intimidating, but pastebin functionality solves that so long as you are willing to do the searching to find the premade program.
Good luck.
Otherwise, ComputerCraft is your answer. Several scripts exist (both in these forums, the CC forums, and Google) to do everything from monitor fuel efficiency, track usage patterns, and your requested kill switch. LUA can be intimidating, but pastebin functionality solves that so long as you are willing to do the searching to find the premade program.
Good luck.
I wrote this CC script a bit back to monitor a TE cell or EnderIO capacitor bank and toggle a power source on and off at 10%/90%(can be changed in code):
http://forum.feed-the-beast.com/thr...uide-collection-etc.42664/page-15#post-718973
Fairly simple and I mostly use it to control stuff like Dynamos etc. but it should work just fine for reactors as well(as long as you have the reactor charge the cell/capacitor bank).
If you want something a bit more complex you should try this:
https://github.com/sandalle/minecraft_bigreactor_control
This will automatically dial your Control rods in to a perfect compromise between efficiency and performance(just below 1000C temperature EDIT: Just noticed that the script have been updated since I last used it and the temperature range have been changed) and toggle the reactor on and off depending on the reactors internal power buffer(I think it is 15% and 85% that are the limits, can be changed in code).
http://forum.feed-the-beast.com/thr...uide-collection-etc.42664/page-15#post-718973
Fairly simple and I mostly use it to control stuff like Dynamos etc. but it should work just fine for reactors as well(as long as you have the reactor charge the cell/capacitor bank).
If you want something a bit more complex you should try this:
https://github.com/sandalle/minecraft_bigreactor_control
This will automatically dial your Control rods in to a perfect compromise between efficiency and performance(
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I'm really not quite sure. I had a power moniter set to turn the reactor off at 85 percent full and on at 50 percent and I had rednet cables connecting to a redstone port. I don't know what I did wrong. Do I have to connect capacitors to it or..?
Yes. The power monitor sends the signal based on the power in the capacitors, not the reactor. Also, make sure the power monitor is connected via an energy conduit, not directly to the the capacitor. While I'm not sure why Rednet cables wouldn't work, EnderIO redstone conduits definitely do work.
Rednet Port with Rednet Programmable Controller set to passthrough. Configuration:
Reactor Stored Power level OUT [white] --->> [purple] Control Rod Level IN
This gives:
Reactor Stored Power level OUT [white] --->> [purple] Control Rod Level IN
This gives:
Code:
Stored power Control Rod Level Result
100% 100% No Power
. . .
. . .
50% 50% 50% Power
. . .
. . .
0% 0% Full Power
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Or just 2 Rednet/Redstone Ports and you dont need the PRC. Just 2 lengths of Rednet cable/redstone cable/wire.
Problem with this setup will however always be that it is oblivious to reactor temperature and will without hesitation bring your reactor up to very high temperatures where you suffer enormous efficiency penalties.
He is merely using the PRC to turn the White signal into the Purple signal. You dont need the PRC at all if you just use 2 Rednet ports.
But really... I recommend using a method that caps the temperature. Or make sure that your reactor is designed so that 100% control rod will not raise temperature too high(which a waste of materials though since you are not making proper use of all reactor casing/cooling material).
I strongly recommend you try the second script I posted further up in the thread. It is very nice and in addition to controlling your reactor(s) and turbine(s) it gives very nice overview of all important stats on attached monitors(and touchscreen control).
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On the Reactor RedNet Port:
On the Programmable RedNet Controller attached to the front of the RedNet Port:
White - Output: Energy amount (%)
Magenta - Input: Change control rod insertion
Magenta - Input: Change control rod insertion
On the Programmable RedNet Controller attached to the front of the RedNet Port:
Select "Passthrough"
I set to: I/O B [white]
O set to I/O B [magenta]
I set to: I/O B [white]
O set to I/O B [magenta]
If you have a problem with your reactor overheating, you need to modify your reactor design or use a better coolant. Most of the reactors I build have a temperature stable at around half full. Typically, that's a 7x7 'X' reactor using either Resonant Ender or Gelled Cryotheum. Pull the coolant out when you set up your Turbine, of course, since the higher temp the better for that.
I am well aware of the BR mechanics. What I am referring to is that your best reactor building cost/space usage to power output/fuel efficiency compromises are obtained with reactors that will run way too hot if given full control rod. You can easily build reactors that will run at low temperatures at 0% control rods but that is a total waste of potential and materials. In order to gain enough power output at a high enough efficiency rate you need a lot of fuel rods to irradiate each other. But ofc this means you cannot have them set to 0% control rod.
That is completely utterly wrong I am afraid. For actively cooled reactors you still want the best "thermal conductive materials" (the word coolant is misrepresentative of its function) as possible to transfer heat from the core to the casing(where the steam is created). And you want to keep the temperature low enough to not get penalized too great in fuel efficiency but also high enough to get a decent core radiation percentage. Somewhere around 900C is a good compromise.
If you are referring to the first script(which I wrote myself), then I think the peripheral names of TE cells and/or EIO capacitor banks might have changed since I wrote the code(in 1.6.4). You can find this by adding a ComputerCraft "Wired Modem" to the device and rightclicking it so it turns red. The correct name should appear in your chat. You would have to replace this in the code:
You need to replace all the occurances of "cofh_thermalexpansion_energycell" with what you find for the TE energy cells and "tile_enderio_blockcapacitorbank_name" with what you find for the EIO capacitors. Dont add the number on the end of the name in the chat, that is the address of the specific item you tested. If you use that in the code it will only ever work with that particular item.
Btw if someone could give me the correct peripheral names of the TE cells and EIO capacitor banks then I would gladly make a 1.7 version of the script. Don't actually have a 1.7 modpack installed atm myself
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