Mods/IndustrialCraft²/Energy

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 Transmitters
This is one of the 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 60,000 EUs.
 * -It can output anywhere from 0-50EU/s (Energy Units per Second) (adjustable using an EC Manipulator and Redstone)
 * -It will instantly charge a battery or Bat-Pack that is placed in it (as long as it contains enough EUs to fully charge the device)


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Not as good for long-distance Energy transfers
 * -Relatively low energy storage compared to the MFSU

=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 acquiring 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 if another RE Battery is waiting to be charged
 * -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: 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
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction
 * -Industrial Craft version 7.00 introduced the ability for an adjacent Miner to automatically feed Lava directly into the Geothermal Generator
 * -According to Alblaka, when a Miner automatically feeds a Geothermal Generator, up to three buckets of lava can be stored by the Geothermal Generator (need to verify)


 * Advantages:
 * -Produces a lot of power per fuel
 * -Returns buckets
 * -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 (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 Circuit, 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 receive sunlight through Glass and Reinforced Glass)
 * -Produces 1 EU/s
 * -Charges at least 1 battery during the daytime (~10 minutes real-time)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest
 * -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 the 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 flowing water generation rate) 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:
 * -The Water Mill needs Water to operate
 * -Can be loaded directly in with water Buckets to produce 840 EUs at a rate of 4 EU/s (water will be used, buckets are not lost in the process).
 * -Can also produce an average 0.014 EU/s per block of still or flowing water in a 3×3 cube around the Water Mill.
 * -Charges at least 9 batteries during the entire day (~20 minutes real-time) when using buckets, otherwise it only partially charges one battery, even with 26 water blocks around it.
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest
 * -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 the 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 example, placing water) and wiring system has to be complex to get a sizable amount of power out of watermill 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
 * -In best conditions, max height, no blocks, Charges at least 2-3 batteries during the entire day (~20 minutes real-time)
 * -Ejects charged batteries into adjacent Chest
 * -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 the 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× Advanced Alloy, 2× Electronic Circuit, 2× Glowstone Dust, 1× Generator Produces: 1× 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
 * -Has a chance to explode, but the risk can be reduced significantly by surrounding the reactor with water. Maximum reduction is obtained by placing the reactor in the center of a 3×3 cube of water. WARNING! If it does explode, it is MASSIVELY DESTRUCTIVE!
 * -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 example, placing water) to prevent it from blowing up.
 * -Uses non-renewable resources.
 * -Have to be manually reloaded.
 * -A single generator costs a lot of materials to make.
 * -A Nuclear explosion is extremely destructive.

=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:
 * -Cables carrying the high voltage produced by the HV Transformer will cause damage to any monster or player that contacts it.
 * -Energy loss reportedly takes place at a rate of approx. 2EU every 3 blocks after the first 9 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
 * -Experimental cables are said to exist, but the craft of them is lost, so there would be no point to trying different metals, or even dusts. None at all. IndustrialCraft holds no responsibility for loss of precious resources through fruitless experimentation.

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, 1&times; Cable, 1&times; Lever Produces: 1&times; Switch Cable
 * Crafting:

The Switch Cable is not used in any recipes.
 * Recipes:
 * Notes:
 * -Cannot use the Wrench to dismantle

MFE Transmitter
The MFE Transmitter will take up to four incoming EU sources and store up to 60,000 EUs. The MFE Transmitter also transmits EUs out of both the top and bottom of the block. In addition, batteries and bat-packs can be charged instantantly in the MFE Transmitter. 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 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 1-50 EU/s, changed by right-clicking MFE Transmitter with EC Manipulator
 * -MFE Transmitter will eject charged batteries, either on the ground, or into a nearby Chest (tested:v7.16)
 * -Use a Wrench to dismantle

MFSU
The MFSU (Multi-Functional Storage Unit) exhibits the same behavior as the MFE Transmitter, but can store up to 10 million EUs. Materials: 8&times; (empty) Energy Crystals, 1&times; Advanced Machine Produces: 1&times; MFSU
 * Crafting:


 * Advantages:
 * -Much greater energy storage than the MFE Transmitter


 * Disadvantages:
 * -Very expensive to manufacture

HV Transformer
HV (High Voltage) Transformers use an internal capacitor to charge then release energy in pulses of 2000EU at a time, significantly reducing EU losses over long distances. They accept input on all 4 sides, and will output either HV from the top or 50EU/s from the bottom faces (but not both at once). They must be used in pairs to transmit high voltages without equipment damage and/or personal injury.. Materials: 3&times; Cables, 2&times; Redstone, 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:
 * -Cables carrying high voltage will damage anything in contact with them.
 * -Any machine receiving HV other then another HV Transformer will explode instantly.
 * -HV cables can be split like other cables, and will attempt to split the 2000EU pulse evenly.
 * -Failure to use a Wrench to dismantle this block will only produce a Machine to collect upon its destruction