Solars

The Solar Arrays are a primary power source. They are very useful if the Engine is nonfunctional for some reason. As name suggests, solar arrays generate electrical power from sun. While they won't generate as much as other power sources, they are reliable and don't require maintenance if properly set up.

Locations

File:300px-Solars.png

One of the station's solar arrays

There are three solar arrays on the colony:

• Mountain Solars - Located via the elevator in Engineering Hallway, next to the generator array. This is the colony's primary array and should be taken care of at the start of the shift.

These are secondary arrays and are optional to setup.

• Soteria Solars - Located outside directly south of the Gatehouse. However, this is considered Soteria Institute Private Property and any personnel not employed by them may face trespassing charges.
• Church Solars - Located west of the Scrap Beacon, next to the Church's Garden. These are in a public area and are open to all personnel.

Connecting the Arrays

Required Tools

• Several (preferrably red) cable coils.
• Insultated Gloves

Wiring Setup

Both of the two solar arrays are connected to the station at the start. Though you will need to connect the solar panels to the solar tracker which is already connected to the station.

To wire a tile, hold a cable coil in hand and click an adjacent tile, this will add a wire radiating from the center of the selected tile toward your current position. You will see a tiny red "knot" in the center of the tile, when extending the wire across the tile, make sure to click the knot in order to form a straight wire. Make sure the wire coil is in your hands when you click the knot (wiring is often learnt by trial and error).

Using this method, connect the solar arrays and solar tracker to the station. Having excessive knotting in your wiring can sometimes cause power loss, and other such nasties. Knots are best left avoided altogether for this reason - wire your junctions the same way the solar panels are already connected together, with the curving wires. You can also rewire the control room to remove the knots using this same method.

It should be noted that each array starts with a number of wire splices, you should be careful not to step on or handle these without proper insulated clothing. To remove these click on them with your wirecutters while wearing insulated gloves. Otherwise you may receive a potentially lethal shock additionally the same shock can occur while wearing insulated gloves and stepping on a splice. Splices do cause power loss, so take care to snip them.

Calibration

As colony is orbiting local sun, solar arrays have to be calibrated properly. Usually, the easiest way is simply opening the solar array control console, and pressing the "Auto" button. If you correctly finished the wiring step, solars should automatically calibrate themselves. Also, please note that clouds blocks sunlight. This means output of the main solar array is fluctuating between 0 and 750 000 Watts. To compensate, the SMES power storage units are used.

SMES Setup

SMES units store power generated by the solar array and send it to the main grid. The solar arrays are used as a primary power source it is recommended to leave the SMES output online. The default SMES settings are:

• 750 000W Input, charging mode Auto.
• 750 000W Output, charging mode Online.

This will ensure the SMESs remain charged and send power to the grid, which will be ready should Engine failure occur. If this happens, the excess generated will start to drain off. Alternatively the station AI may do this, if your colony is equipped with one. With the main solar array online station should have at least 500 000 Watts of power, which coupled with the Antimatter Generator is enough to fully power the colony.

Solar Maintenance

Space is full of dangers. While solar arrays provide reliable power source, they may be easily damaged by meteors or other dangers. This section will explain how to repair the array.

Wiring Damage

This problem may be easily fixed by replacing damaged/missing wiring.

Solar Panel(s) Damage

Each solar panel is covered by double glass sheet. If this sheet was damaged it has to be replaced. Crowbar the broken glass out and replace it. If the panel was completely destroyed obtain replacement solar panel assembly. Few assemblies should be in Engineering Storage, alternatively contact Cargo department to order more. Wrench the assembly in place and add protective glass sheets.

Solar Tracker Damage

Solar tracker is special piece of machinery which ensures the solar array is properly aligned. If it's destroyed it has to be replaced. Obtain new solar panel assembly, wrench it in place and then insert solar tracker circuit board. Then add two glass sheets and your new tracker is finished.
Please note that it is not reccomended to have more than one tracker for each solar array.

SMES Damage

SMES units are very expensive to replace. For more information on this complex piece of machinery refer to SMES Manual.
Please note that solar arrays should NEVER be wired into the main grid. If there are two or more arrays in same grid, controllers conflict which usually results in both arrays ceasing to function.

Upgrading Solars

Each panel can have its output increased by swapping the glass panels out with something superior. Reinforced glass gives a small increase to production with Reinforced Borosilicate glass giving the largest, around thirty percent!