Transformer - Revision history

Kaedys: Updated and expanded description especially around how the 10W self draw affects how transformers are used, and clarified where transformer use is vital to avoid cable burnout

2026-06-20T00:14:40Z

Updated and expanded description especially around how the 10W self draw affects how transformers are used, and clarified where transformer use is vital to avoid cable burnout

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:14, 20 June 2026
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	==Usage==		==Usage==
	~~Given that~~ the ~~transformer~~ can ~~limit~~ power ~~very specifically (with large 100 W increments or small 10 W increments), you~~ can ~~control or stop~~ the ~~output line~~ from ~~drawing~~ more than the ~~transformer gives~~ out. ~~This can~~ be ~~used~~ to ~~control many items that don~~'~~t have~~ a ~~changing~~ power ~~usage~~, ~~such~~ as ~~lights~~, ~~volume pumps~~, ~~pipe regulators~~, ~~active vents, and~~ more. This is ~~similar to the [[Area Power Controller]] but does not have~~ a ~~battery buffer~~.		Due to the power limiting ability of transformers, they are excellent options for preventing wire networks from burning out from excess load. For example, [[Wind Turbine]]s can generate dramatically more power during certain types of [[Storm]]s. Placing two Large Transformers in parallel between the Wind Turbines and the Station Batteries can prevent the Wind Turbines from trying to push more than 100 kW of power to the batteries, preventing Heavy [[Cables]] from being overloaded and burned out. Similarly, Small Transformers natively limit the output to the same wattage limit as standard Cables, allowing a network to be provided with power without risk of burning out the cable network if it tries to draw more power than the cable network can support.

			Generally speaking, it's a good idea to place transformers:
			* Between power generators and batteries - Batteries will try to draw all available power, no matter how much the cables in between could support, so this avoids cable burn-out if available generation exceeds the load capacity of the cables used.
			* Between batteries and downstream devices - Batteries will also provide as much power as is demanded, so this prevents cable burn-out during unusual load spikes.
			* To separate heavy cable networks from standard cable networks - While an Area Power Control can also be used for this, and has the advantage of providing a battery backup (which is vital for important networks like airlocks), using a Small Transformer instead ensures that the standard cable network cannot try to draw more power than the cables can support. This is especially useful for networks with dynamic power draw from many sources, such as a production room or gas filtering and processing facility.

	==Notes==		==Notes==
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	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->

	~~The Transformer~~ will use 10W ~~itself (all sizes). This 10W will come~~ from the input side of the transformer, and will ~~not appear~~ as ~~draw~~ on the ~~output side of the transformer~~.		Transformers of all sizes will use 10W to power themselves, drawn from the input side of the transformer. This is in addition to the maximum load setting configured on the transformer, and this should be taken into account when setting the maximum draw for the transformer. For example, two Large Transformers placed in parallel and each set to 50 kW will have a maximum draw of 100.02 kW, rather than 100 kW even. While a very small difference, this is sufficient to burn out a [[Cables\|heavy cable]] upstream network, which only supports 100.00 kW. In certain circumstances, the upstream can burn out even if both transformers are set to 49.99 kW, so it is recommended to use a slightly lower value, such as 49.95 kW, to avoid this issue. This must be dropped even further if there are any other power-consuming devices on the upstream network (such as logic devices for controlling solar panels, etc).

	===Data Network Properties===		===Data Network Properties===

2601:1C2:F02:5C10:F10D:C8A4:699A:7FC0: Undo revision 25611 by 2601:1C2:F02:5C10:F10D:C8A4:699A:7FC0 (talk)

2026-01-22T07:03:38Z

Undo revision 25611 by 2601:1C2:F02:5C10:F10D:C8A4:699A:7FC0 (talk)

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 22 January 2026
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	==Usage==		==Usage==
	Given that the transformer can limit power very specifically (with large 100 W increments or small ~~10W~~ increments), you can control or stop the output line from drawing more than the transformer gives out. This can be used to control many items that don't have a changing power usage, such as lights, volume pumps, pipe regulators, active vents, and more. This is similar to the [[Area Power Controller]] but does not have a battery buffer.		Given that the transformer can limit power very specifically (with large 100 W increments or small 10 W increments), you can control or stop the output line from drawing more than the transformer gives out. This can be used to control many items that don't have a changing power usage, such as lights, volume pumps, pipe regulators, active vents, and more. This is similar to the [[Area Power Controller]] but does not have a battery buffer.

	==Notes==		==Notes==

2601:1C2:F02:5C10:F10D:C8A4:699A:7FC0: /* Usage */ test edit from guest account in incognito browser (removed space between "10" and "W" for this test) -SemlerPDX

2026-01-22T05:11:39Z

Usage: test edit from guest account in incognito browser (removed space between "10" and "W" for this test) -SemlerPDX

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:11, 22 January 2026
Line 26:		Line 26:

	==Usage==		==Usage==
	Given that the transformer can limit power very specifically (with large 100 W increments or small ~~10 W~~ increments), you can control or stop the output line from drawing more than the transformer gives out. This can be used to control many items that don't have a changing power usage, such as lights, volume pumps, pipe regulators, active vents, and more. This is similar to the [[Area Power Controller]] but does not have a battery buffer.		Given that the transformer can limit power very specifically (with large 100 W increments or small 10W increments), you can control or stop the output line from drawing more than the transformer gives out. This can be used to control many items that don't have a changing power usage, such as lights, volume pumps, pipe regulators, active vents, and more. This is similar to the [[Area Power Controller]] but does not have a battery buffer.

	==Notes==		==Notes==

SemlerPDX: /* Notes */ clarified details on the 10W draw of transformers

2026-01-15T20:16:59Z

Notes: clarified details on the 10W draw of transformers

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:16, 15 January 2026
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	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->

	The Transformer will use 10W itself (all sizes).		The Transformer will use 10W itself (all sizes). This 10W will come from the input side of the transformer, and will not appear as draw on the output side of the transformer.

	===Data Network Properties===		===Data Network Properties===

SemlerPDX: /* Notes */ removed incorrect note about heavy cables required on all transformer inputs

2026-01-15T20:14:17Z

Notes: removed incorrect note about heavy cables required on all transformer inputs

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 15 January 2026
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	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->

	The Transformer will use 10W itself (all sizes)~~. All transformers require [[Cables\|Heavy Cables]] or better on the input side despite showing a yellow ghost when connecting a regular cable. Output can use any size cable~~.		The Transformer will use 10W itself (all sizes).

	===Data Network Properties===		===Data Network Properties===

50.125.15.118: After almost punching my screen I finally figured out that transformers now require heavy/super heavy cables on the input side. Sorry I'm not logged in, I want to create an account but new account creation seems to be disabled :(

2026-01-15T05:31:21Z

After almost punching my screen I finally figured out that transformers now require heavy/super heavy cables on the input side. Sorry I'm not logged in, I want to create an account but new account creation seems to be disabled :(

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:31, 15 January 2026
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	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->

	The Transformer will use 10W itself(all sizes)~~, so setting~~ a ~~small transformer to 5000 and feeding with~~ a regular cable ~~will cause the supply~~ cable ~~to blow as it can draw 5010W at max load~~		The Transformer will use 10W itself (all sizes). All transformers require [[Cables\|Heavy Cables]] or better on the input side despite showing a yellow ghost when connecting a regular cable. Output can use any size cable.

	===Data Network Properties===		===Data Network Properties===

2A0B:5F04:DC:1900:BF59:C021:DD26:B5FE: Filled in table headings

2026-01-09T23:44:25Z

Filled in table headings

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:44, 9 January 2026
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	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	\|-		\|-
	! ~~Header text~~ !! ~~Header text~~ !! ~~Header text~~		! Parameter Name !! Data Type !! Description
	\|-		\|-
	\| On \|\| Boolean \|\| Turns the Transformer on when set to 1. Turns it off when set to 0.		\| On \|\| Boolean \|\| Turns the Transformer on when set to 1. Turns it off when set to 0.

Katree: Adding power category

2025-01-25T03:34:14Z

Adding power category

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:34, 25 January 2025
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			[[Category:Power]]
	{{Itembox		{{Itembox
	\| name = Kit (Transformer)		\| name = Kit (Transformer)

Z0: /* Notes */

2024-01-24T21:31:18Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 24 January 2024
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	Data will not flow through a transformer, isolating the circuit behind their input. <br>		Data will not flow through a transformer, isolating the circuit behind their input. <br>
	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->

	The Transformer will use 10W itself(all sizes), so setting a small transformer to 5000 and feeding with a regular cable will cause the supply cable to blow as it can draw 5010W at max load		The Transformer will use 10W itself(all sizes), so setting a small transformer to 5000 and feeding with a regular cable will cause the supply cable to blow as it can draw 5010W at max load

Z0: /* Notes */

2024-01-24T21:30:40Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:30, 24 January 2024
Line 30:		Line 30:
	Data will not flow through a transformer, isolating the circuit behind their input. <br>		Data will not flow through a transformer, isolating the circuit behind their input. <br>
	The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->		The transformers seem to generate a large amount of heat. <!-- someone needs to test the details, i noticed a 71 C temperature in a space where i put a large transformer (17-20 C in the rest of the base) -N -->
			The Transformer will use 10W itself(all sizes), so setting a small transformer to 5000 and feeding with a regular cable will cause the supply cable to blow as it can draw 5010W at max load

	===Data Network Properties===		===Data Network Properties===