Mods/IndustrialCraft²/Energy

=Energy in IndustrialCraft= Energy (similar to Electricity in the real world) is very important in the IndustrialCraft mod. Energy Units (EUs) are what power almost all of the new machines and advanced tools that give a user the ability to become more industrious. Knowing how to create and maintain Energy Systems will drastically improve the IndustrialCraft experience.

Batteries
Batteries are the most basic way to utilize Energy to power your advanced tools and machines.
 * Advantages:
 * -Portable
 * -Can be charged using basic fuel like coal and wood.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Non-stackable (when charged)
 * -Relatively low EU storage (10,000 EUs)

Cables and Switch Cables
Cables and switch cables are useful for transferring the EUs straight from the generators to the machines, effectively cutting out the middle-man.


 * Advantages:
 * -Eliminates the need to run between the generator and a machine (if the energy source is automatic).
 * -Can be used to generate high EU storage


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Not Portable
 * -Requires a lot of materials

MFE Transmitter
This is one of the greatest Energy Devices in the mod. The MFE Transmitter is a necessary addition in order to take full advantage of generators. It makes the task of powering machines and charging portable batteries much easier. The MFE Transmitter can be thought of as a large, stationary battery.
 * Advantages:
 * -It will store 160,000 EU (more with energy crystals installed)
 * -It can output anywhere from 0-50EU/s (Energy Units per Second) (adjustable using an EC Manipulator)
 * -It will instantly charge a battery that is placed in it (as long as it contains at least 10,000 EUs)


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Not as good for long-distance Energy transfers

=Energy Sources= The following are the Energy Devices that produce EU/s from various power sources.

Generator
The Generator is the most basic method of aquiring Energy Units, basically burning fuel to create EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. It is also a basic ingredient in more advanced machines and energy devices. There are 2 ways to build a Generator, the first being the most frugal with Iron. Materials: 1&times; RE Battery, 1&times; Machine, 1&times; Furnace Produces: 1&times; Generator
 * Crafting:

OR Materials: 1&times; RE Battery, 3&times; Refined Iron, 1&times; Iron Furnace Produces: 1&times; Generator

The Generator is used to craft the Water Mill, Geothermal Generator, Solar Collector, Windmill, Miner, Nuclear Reactor, and the Crystal Charger.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Produces 5 EU/s
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Cheapest power source to make
 * -A decent power rate per generator
 * -Can be used to generate high EU storage
 * -Can be placed very closely together and the ground doesn't need preparing.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Requires fuel to work.
 * -Not automatic. Generators have to be reloaded.

Fuel-to-Energy Chart

 * Cactus: 125 EUs (80 to charge 1 battery)
 * Sugar Cane: 125 EUs (80 to charge 1 battery)
 * Stick: 250 EUs (40 to charge 1 battery)
 * Scrap: 400 EUs (25 to charge 1 battery)
 * Redstone Dust: 500 EUs (20 to charge 1 battery)
 * Wood: 750 EUs (14 to charge 1 battery)
 * Wooden Plank: 750 EUs (14 to charge 1 battery)
 * (investigate Water Mill update!)Water Bucket (in the Watermill): 840 EUs (12 to charge 1 battery)
 * Coal: 4000 EUs (2.5 to charge 1 battery)
 * Lava Bucket (in the Geothermal Generator): 20500 EUs (1 will charge 2 batteries)
 * Bio Fuel: 32000 EUs (1 will charge 3.2 batteries)
 * Uranium Fuel Ingot (in the Nuclear Reactor): 40000 EUs (1 will charge 4 batteries)
 * IndustrialCraft Fuel: 48000 EUs (1 will charge 4.8 batteries)
 * Super Fuel: 144000 EUs (1 will charge 14.4 batteries)

Geothermal Generator
The Geothermal Generator uses lava to create EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. Materials: 4&times; Glass, 3&times; Refined Iron, 1&times; Electronic Circuit, 1&times; Generator Produces: 1&times; Geothermal Generator
 * Crafting:

The Geothermal Generator is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Produces 5 EU/s
 * -1 Lava Bucket charges 2 batteries (20500 EU/10000 EU)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Produces a lot of power per fuel
 * -A decent power rate per generator
 * -Can be placed very closely together and the ground doesn't need preparing.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Uses up non-renewable resources (iron buckets and lava).
 * -Not automatic. Generators have to be reloaded.

Solar Collector
The Solar Collector uses the power of the Sun to produce EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. Materials: 3&times; Coal Dust, 3&times; Glass, 2&times; Electronic Circuits, 1&times; Generator Produces: 1&times; Solar Collector
 * Crafting:

The Solar Collector is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -The Solar Collector needs to be in direct sunlight to operate (will recieve sunlight through Glass and Reinforced Glass)
 * -Produces 1 EU/s
 * -(?verify)Charges at least 1 battery during the daytime (~10 minutes real-time)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Fully automatic. Requires no further effort from player once working.
 * -Easiest for the automatic power sources to place and wire up.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Low power output per generator.
 * -Produces no power at night or when not directly exposed to sky (glass and reinforced glass does not block the sunlight).

Water Mill
(?verify nerf and loss of water bucket capability) The Water Mill uses adjacent blocks of Water to produce EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. Materials: 4&times; Wooden Planks, 4&times; Sticks, 1&times; Generator Produces: 1&times; Water Mill
 * Crafting:

The Water Mill is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -(?verify water bucket gone)The Water Mill needs Water to operate
 * -(?verify nerf)Produces 4 EU/s
 * -(?verify)Charges at least # battery during the entire day (~20 minutes real-time)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Fully automatic. Requires no further effort from player once working.
 * -Costs relatively little materials to make.
 * -Power output is steady throughout the day.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Very low power output per generator.
 * -Ground needs a lot of preparation (for an example, placing water) and wiring system have to be complex to get a sizable amount of power out of water mill complexes.

Windmill
The Windmill uses Wind power to produce EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. Materials: 4&times; Cables, 4&times; Iron Ingots, 1&times; Generator Produces: 1&times; Windmill
 * Crafting:

The Windmill is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -The Windmill produces variable EUs according to elevation, amount of blocks within 5 block radius, and variable wind speed
 * -Produces 0-3 EU/s
 * -(?verify)Charges at least # battery during the entire day (~20 minutes real-time)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Fully automatic. Requires no further effort from player once working.
 * -Highest average power output of the automatic generators.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Cannot be packed closely together and have to be placed in high altitudes to get the maximum power per generator.
 * -Wiring system is a bit complex.
 * -Wind is not very reliable - its speed varies throughout the day.

Nuclear Reactor
The Nuclear Reactor will turn Uranium into Uranium Fuel Ingots without needing fuel. The Nuclear Reactor then uses Uranium Fuel Ingots as fuel to produce EUs that can charge batteries or be transferred by cable. Materials: 4&times; Advanced Alloy, 2&times; Electronic Circuit, 2&times; Glowstone Dust, 1&times; Generator Produces: 1&times; Nuclear Reactor
 * Crafting:

The Nuclear Reactor is used to make Uranium Fuel Ingots.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Produces 20 EU/s
 * -1 Uranium Fuel Ingot charges 4 batteries (40000 EU/10000 EU)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest (need to verify)
 * -(need to verify)Has a chance to explode which can be nullified with an adequate amount of water surrounding it
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction


 * Advantages:
 * -Highest power output per generator.


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Ground needs some preparation (for an example, placing water) to prevent it from blowing up.
 * -Uses non-renewable resource.
 * -Have to be manually reloaded.
 * -A single generator costs a lot of materials to make.

=Energy Transfer=

Energy transfer is necessary to power machines without having to manually transport batteries between generators and machines.

Cable
The Cable block transfers EUs across distances and to Machines. The Cable item is used in many recipes. Materials: 3&times, Copper, 6&times; Rubber Produces: 8&times; Cable
 * Crafting:

Cables are used to craft many things. Included are the Windmill, MFE Transmitter, Switch Cable, HV Transformer, Luminator, Crystal Charger, the Terraformer and Terraformer Blueprints, Electronic Circuit, RE Battery, Bat-Pack, Single-Use Battery, Advanced Circuit, EC Manipulator, Cable Obscurator, Mobile Charger, ODE Device, and the Tesla Coil.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Energy loss reportedly takes place at a rate of (verify#)EUs every 3 blocks after the first 8 blocks away from the energy source.
 * -Splits incoming EUs evenly across outgoing cables/machines if an electric current has two ways to go.
 * -If the cable has three ways to go (e.g. more than 1 Machine is set next to 1 Cable or if a cable is split into three), the Cable will disappear/melt. It is intentional to avoid massive slowdown.
 * -EU flow can be determined by right-clicking Cable while holding an EC Manipulator
 * -Cable appearance can be masked by using the Cable Obscurator.
 * -Cannot use the Wrench to dismantle

Switch Cable
The Switch Cable adds up to five incoming EU sources together and outputs them in a sixth direction depending on its Redstone state. The Default output direction is down; if a Redstone signal is applied output direction will be up. Materials: 3&times; Redstone Dust, 1&times; Cable, 1&times; Lever Produces: 1&times; Switch Cable
 * Crafting:

The Switch Cable is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Applying Redstone to the Switch Cable will prevent at least one side from receiving)
 * -(?verify)cannot use Wrench?

MFE Transmitter
The MFE Transmitter will take up to five incoming EU sources and store the EUs. The MFE Transmitter also transmits EUs out of either the (?verify)top or bottom of the block. In addition, batteries can be charged instantantly in the MFE Transmitter GUI. Materials: 4&times; RE Batteries, 4&times; Cables, 1&times; Machine Produces: 2&times; MFE Transmitter
 * Crafting:

The MFE Transmitter can be used to charge batteries and is also used to craft the HV Transformer
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -EU transmission is on by default, applying a Redstone signal will turn transmission off
 * -EU transmission will occur regardless of Redstone state if the MFE Transmitter becomes full
 * -EU transmission can vary between 0-50 EU/s, changing by left-clicking MFE Transmitter with EC Manipulator
 * -MFE Transmitter will eject charged batteries, but NOT into an adjacent Chest (tested:v4.20)
 * -MFE Transmitter EU storage capacity can be increased by inserting 'empty' Energy Crystals by 40,000 EUs per Energy Crystal
 * -Using a Wrench to dismantle will reportedly remove an Energy Crystal each attempt until the MFE Transmitter is empty, then it will dismantle the MFE Transmitter

HV Transformer
TODO: research HV Transformer HV Transformers reduce significantly the energy transfer loss when transferring the energy over the longer distances. Materials: 3&times; Cables, 2&times; Redstone Dust, 1&times; MFE Transmitter, 1&times; Electronic Circuit Produces: 1&times; HV Transformer
 * Crafting:

The HV Transformer is used to craft the Tesla Coil.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:(?verify)
 * -Reportedly Cables carrying the high voltage are dangerous
 * -Reportedly Machines receiving greater than 100 EUs will (be damaged?) (explode?)
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction