Complete Idiots Guide to Stationeers - Solar Tracking without IC Coding

One sensor, 4 logic chips, one logic processor and a memory chip... all deep fried and crispy, just like mum used to make

[@Merv63]

Thank you, Been struggling to get everything right with this, your explanation did it for me. now enjoying life on Mars.

[@54bear]

Glad it helped!

[@javiertrujillo4860]

Thank you very much! The explanation was very clear! You earned a new sub! Thank you again! :D

[@st1nger1980]

Hi, great explanation. I had a similar setup myself. But I always had the problem that my cables burned out. I had the strong cables. But I didn't have the dual panels. Is this due to the panels or is my cabling incorrect? Thanks.

[@54bear]

When I burn cables, most of the time it's because I created a short circuit - connecting a wiring 'network' to both sides of a power control, transformer or battery. Although I have had heavy cables pop from having too many big wind turbines when a storm hits. And I __think__ there's a possible bug in the solid generator code - sometimes cables blow when it gets fired up, even though there isn't anywhere near enough load. Doesn't happen often enough to let me re-produce it on demand, but I always have a few cables on me just in case.

[@robertwarner8455]

That is something I wish could be explained better. Exactly how does the orientation of your solar panels and sensor affect your logic setup? How do you know what adjustments you need to make to the logic circuit because you mounted the daylight sensor on a wall? Anyway great videos!

[@54bear]

I will do a short follow up video - but the essence is that the solar panels ZERO degree horizontal rotation may not be magnetic north, so depending on which way your solar panels are pointing (horizontally) you may need to manipulate the horizontal reading from the sensor. That can be eliminated by having the sensor 'point' the same way as the solar panels. in this case - 'point' refers to the direction of the angled (top?) edge of the sensor when it is laid flat.

[@robertwarner8455]

@@54bearExactly what I was hoping to get here. The angled bit (opposite of the data port) of the solar sensor is forward, but what about the solar panels? is the power port considered the forward direction?

[@watcher2554]

​​​​​​​​​​@@robertwarner8455Same for the panels, data ports would be the back side (ie south)..so face the front towards where the sun comes up, check the horizontal adjustments with a wrench in hand and they should read 0° for north (or close to that given any offset) and you can rotate it and you get the different compass setting, 90°=east and -90°(270°)=West...etc. But you can face the panels any direction you want as long as you make the required changes to the numerical values in the logic circuit based on the rotation you placed the panel in relation to North(direction the sun comes up). Also be aware that the game has a history of changing the position of the Sun(or all the planets shift-its still early access) so the horizontal offset has been as much as 68° before, depending on which planet you are on...so make allowances.

[@DB-zp9un]

I cant wrap my head around why a sensor by itself wont give you a direct vertical reading..

[@54bear]

It can do, if you mount it on a wall, but then the horizontal is messed up

[@videonmode8649]

Still didn't understand how the logic system works and what the values mean, spent too much time talking about other irrelevant things.

[@54bear]

I will do a vid on the fundamentals on logic values and how/why they can be used. A quick way of thinking about them is that they are 'measurements' of something the item in question has or uses. Just about every item in the game that has an electrical connection will have a bunch of logic values you can access or manipulate in some fashion - but having said that, the vast majority of them you will probably never want or need to use. A good way to get familiar is to print a Configuration cartridge (electronics printer), put it in your tablet and point it at electrically powered things. That will show you the current values of all the 'things' that device knows about

[@kapilvijay9141]

not working waste of time :(