Factorio Forums

TL;DR

I'd like to be able to read the current power output of a generator as a percentage using the circuit network.

What?

I want to be able to do logical control based on the factory's present power usage. There's no way to do this - well, there might be but it's far too complicated if there is - using the accumulator readouts. Being able to connect to a steam turbine in a nuclear plant and read its power output as a % of maximum would open a LOT of doors.

Spychotic wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:06 am There's no way to do this - well, there might be but it's far too complicated if there is - using the accumulator readouts.

It can be accomplished with a single decider. (A < T1) or (S > 0 and A < T2) -> 1 S, with the output fed back into the input. T1 is your low power threshold and T2 is your high power threshold. An output of S signifies the need for additional power production. People have been using setups like this for years to throttle their steam power while transitioning to solar.

computeraddict wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:35 pm

Spychotic wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:06 am There's no way to do this - well, there might be but it's far too complicated if there is - using the accumulator readouts.

It can be accomplished with a single decider. (A < T1) or (S > 0 and A < T2) -> 1 S, with the output fed back into the input. T1 is your low power threshold and T2 is your high power threshold. An output of S signifies the need for additional power production. People have been using setups like this for years to throttle their steam power while transitioning to solar.

It took me a while for me to figure out what you were communicating, but I got there. This does not allow me to do things that I want to do because it depends on the accumulators being partially charged. It also lags the actual power consumption.

You can use a Tank to read the Steam level of the system - and control the Water being fed to the Boilers by toggling a Pump on/off for a number of Ticks. When the Steam level is too low, increase the rate of Water flow; and decrease it as the Tank fills up until it levels off. Be careful not to try to Pump the Steam! You will experience brown-outs under heavy load (whoops…)

1 Pump at “Normal” speed will move 20 Units of Water per Tick (assuming that there is space in the Output side) that it is operating, which increases to 200 Units of Steam - you can calculate the Power output of your Generators/Turbines purely based upon how much Fluid is going into the system.

Spychotic wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:58 pm because it depends on the accumulators being partially charged

That is an indication that you are using more than you are producing, yes. You have not communicated how this would be insufficient.

Spychotic wrote: Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:58 pm It also lags the actual power consumption.

Yes? What's the problem with that?