Difference between revisions of "Electric charge"
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| − | Electricity is a resource that is | + | '''Electricity''' or '''Electric Charge''' (official in-game term), sometimes also called '''Energy''', is a resource that is needed to operate various parts in the game. It is critical for unmanned spacecraft, which are generally uncontrollable without any Electric Charge. |
| − | == | + | ==Consumption and Requisition== |
| − | |||
| − | + | Unmanned [[Command Module|Satellite Cores]] constantly use 1.7 units of Electric Charge per minute. Therefore they require a source of energy for missions longer than a few minutes, e.g. short engine burns at regular intervals can be used to keep a probe alive. [[Lights]] and Instrumentation use small quantities of electricity as well, but only when switched on. [[PB-Ion Electric Propulsion System|Ion Engines]] and [[rover]] wheels require particularly large amounts of electricity to operate. | |
| − | === | + | ==Production== |
| − | Many | + | |
| − | {|class="wikitable" | + | === Engines === |
| − | !Engine | + | |
| + | Many Rocket and Jet Engines can produce electricity. The exact output varies based on throttle level, and engines not running will not produce any electricity. The following table shows which engine produces how much energy at full throttle. Engines not listed do not produce electrical energy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| + | !Engine type | ||
| + | !Engine name | ||
!Power | !Power | ||
|- | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="5" | Rocket Engines | ||
| [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine]] | | [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine]] | ||
| 1.0/s | | 1.0/s | ||
| Line 19: | Line 24: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Rockomax "Poodle" Liquid Engine]] | | [[Rockomax "Poodle" Liquid Engine]] | ||
| − | | 1.0/s | + | | 1.0/s |
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Rockomax "Skipper" Liquid Engine]] | ||
| + | | 2.0/s | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Rockomax "Mainsail" Liquid Engine]] | | [[Rockomax "Mainsail" Liquid Engine]] | ||
| − | | 2.0/s | + | | 2.0/s |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
|- | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="2" | Jet Engines | ||
| [[Basic Jet Engine]] | | [[Basic Jet Engine]] | ||
| 0.8/s | | 0.8/s | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[TurboJet Engine]] | | [[TurboJet Engine]] | ||
| − | | 1.0/s | + | | 1.0/s |
|} | |} | ||
=== Solar panels === | === Solar panels === | ||
| + | |||
[[File:Science-satellite.png|right|thumb|A solar-powered satellite]] | [[File:Science-satellite.png|right|thumb|A solar-powered satellite]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | Solar Panels are a lightweight source of electrical energy. However, they need direct sunlight to work, so they won't produce electricity on the night side of a planet, in the shadow of a spacecraft or during eclipses of the sun. Due to this unreliability, it is recommended to have some energy storage as a buffer when supplying a craft solely with solar panels. | |
| − | Their energy output depends on their distance and orientation to the sun | + | All panels except for the [[OX-STAT Photovoltaic Panels]] need to be extended by right-clicking on them before they will generate energy. Unpacked solar panels are very fragile and will disintegrate when experiencing atmospheric drag, so keep them retracted during liftoff, [[aerobraking]] maneuvers or atmospheric re-entry. |
| + | |||
| + | Their energy output depends on their distance and orientation to the sun. Except for the [[OX-STAT Photovoltaic Panels]], all solar panels will orient themselves automatically to a certain degree. | ||
They generate more electricity the closer to [[Kerbol|the Sun]] they are located. However, they ''do not'' currently use the inverse-square law. Rather, they follow a spline curve of 3 piecewise cubics defined from 4 points: | They generate more electricity the closer to [[Kerbol|the Sun]] they are located. However, they ''do not'' currently use the inverse-square law. Rather, they follow a spline curve of 3 piecewise cubics defined from 4 points: | ||
| + | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Distance (m) | ! Distance (m) | ||
| Line 58: | Line 59: | ||
| 0 | | 0 | ||
| 10x | | 10x | ||
| − | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| 13,599,840,256 | | 13,599,840,256 | ||
| Line 73: | Line 74: | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | |||
=== Radioisotope battery === | === Radioisotope battery === | ||
| − | The [[PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator]] is a constant and reliable source of energy which doesn't require | + | The [[PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator]] is a constant and reliable source of energy which doesn't require any sunlight and is much more resistant to atmospheric drag than solar arrays. Unfortunately it has a very unpractical shape and is significantly heavier than solar panels with a comparable output of electricity. |
| − | == | + | === Launch Clamps === |
| − | A | + | [[TT18-A Launch Stability Enhancer]]s provide attached craft with electricity and thus prevent running out of energy on the Launch Pad. |
| − | + | == Storage == | |
| − | + | Storing electric charge helps a craft survive longer without energy supply, deal with peak loads (such as the use of ion engines) or bridge time gaps when solar panels aren't usable. The following parts store energy: | |
| + | *Unmanned [[Command Module]]s offer very low capacities and constantly consume energy | ||
| + | *Manned Command Modules offer significant storage capacities and do not consume energy but are relatively large | ||
| + | *Batteries are small and offer high storage capacities at the same time. | ||
All energy storage available to a craft is fully loaded at launch. | All energy storage available to a craft is fully loaded at launch. | ||
Revision as of 13:09, 1 June 2013
Electricity or Electric Charge (official in-game term), sometimes also called Energy, is a resource that is needed to operate various parts in the game. It is critical for unmanned spacecraft, which are generally uncontrollable without any Electric Charge.
Contents
Consumption and Requisition
Unmanned Satellite Cores constantly use 1.7 units of Electric Charge per minute. Therefore they require a source of energy for missions longer than a few minutes, e.g. short engine burns at regular intervals can be used to keep a probe alive. Lights and Instrumentation use small quantities of electricity as well, but only when switched on. Ion Engines and rover wheels require particularly large amounts of electricity to operate.
Production
Engines
Many Rocket and Jet Engines can produce electricity. The exact output varies based on throttle level, and engines not running will not produce any electricity. The following table shows which engine produces how much energy at full throttle. Engines not listed do not produce electrical energy.
| Engine type | Engine name | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket Engines | LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine | 1.0/s |
| LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine | 1.0/s | |
| Rockomax "Poodle" Liquid Engine | 1.0/s | |
| Rockomax "Skipper" Liquid Engine | 2.0/s | |
| Rockomax "Mainsail" Liquid Engine | 2.0/s | |
| Jet Engines | Basic Jet Engine | 0.8/s |
| TurboJet Engine | 1.0/s |
Solar panels
Solar Panels are a lightweight source of electrical energy. However, they need direct sunlight to work, so they won't produce electricity on the night side of a planet, in the shadow of a spacecraft or during eclipses of the sun. Due to this unreliability, it is recommended to have some energy storage as a buffer when supplying a craft solely with solar panels.
All panels except for the OX-STAT Photovoltaic Panels need to be extended by right-clicking on them before they will generate energy. Unpacked solar panels are very fragile and will disintegrate when experiencing atmospheric drag, so keep them retracted during liftoff, aerobraking maneuvers or atmospheric re-entry.
Their energy output depends on their distance and orientation to the sun. Except for the OX-STAT Photovoltaic Panels, all solar panels will orient themselves automatically to a certain degree.
They generate more electricity the closer to the Sun they are located. However, they do not currently use the inverse-square law. Rather, they follow a spline curve of 3 piecewise cubics defined from 4 points:
| Distance (m) | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 10x | |
| 13,599,840,256 | 1x | Kerbin's orbit |
| 68,773,560,320 | 0.5x | Jool's semi-major axis |
| 206,000,000,000 | 0x | Almost 3x Jool's orbit |
Radioisotope battery
The PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is a constant and reliable source of energy which doesn't require any sunlight and is much more resistant to atmospheric drag than solar arrays. Unfortunately it has a very unpractical shape and is significantly heavier than solar panels with a comparable output of electricity.
Launch Clamps
TT18-A Launch Stability Enhancers provide attached craft with electricity and thus prevent running out of energy on the Launch Pad.
Storage
Storing electric charge helps a craft survive longer without energy supply, deal with peak loads (such as the use of ion engines) or bridge time gaps when solar panels aren't usable. The following parts store energy:
- Unmanned Command Modules offer very low capacities and constantly consume energy
- Manned Command Modules offer significant storage capacities and do not consume energy but are relatively large
- Batteries are small and offer high storage capacities at the same time.
All energy storage available to a craft is fully loaded at launch.
