Power Transformer

Power Transformer
Limits Power flowing through the Transformer to 1000 W.
Connect Batteries on the large side to act as a valve and prevent Wires from drawing more than 1000 W and suffering overload damage.
Research	Advanced Power Regulation
Dimensions	2×2 tiles
Rotation	Mirrored
Category	Power
Heat	+1 kDTU/s
Overheat at	75 °C
Decor	-10 (Radius: 2 tiles)
Requires	Power generator
Effects	Power capacity: 1000 J Power runoff: 0 J/cycle
Auto In	Green: Enable Red: Disable
Other Properties	Susceptible to flooding
Materials
Metal Ore	200 kg

Power Transformer is a building intended to separate two circuits to protect against overload damage or to force power into another circuit. It works as a buffer between circuits, providing up to 1000 W from its internal battery to one circuit while consuming power from the other circuit. Since the output is limited, it can safely convert power from a higher wattage source (e.g. Heavi-Watt Wire, which can carry up to 20 kW) down to a lower wattage (e.g. Wire, which can only carry up to 1 kW). Multiple transformers can be connected on a circuit as either consumer or producer.

Usage

Transformers have an input side (the upper attachment point) and an output side (the lower attachment point). Typically, high-power circuits should enter the transformer through its upper input, and will output up to 1 kW on the output side.

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Typically, generators and Batteries will be attached on a Heavi-Watt Wire grid, giving them a 20 kW capacity (allowing up to 33 Coal Generators). Multiple transformers can then be attached to supply power consumers attached to a lower wattage cable able to cross tiles.

In this scenario, batteries on the output side of the transformers would be avoided, as batteries have no limit to output rate. A transformer can resist damage when power draw crosses above 1 kW, but a battery can cross that limit and overload a circuit.

Alternatively, transformers can be used to draw power from a low wattage circuit attached to multiple power producers and output into a higher wattage circuit. This would protect the lower circuit from overload while still providing to the main power circuit and benefitting from the advantages of using low wattage cables.

Notes

• Transformers will operate without any power cost or charge loss unless disabled by automation or disconnected from an output circuit. In which case, the internal battery will rapidly drain.
• Automation can be used to interrupt power flow in the same way as Switches and Power Shutoffs. However, this will cause power runoff.
• Two transformers drawing from a high wattage input can be paired to fully provide for a Conductive Wire grid safe from overloading.
• A power transformer will produce heat as long as it contains some energy, irrespective of the power input/output.
• The internal battery is limited to a recharge rate of 1 kW (or 200 J per game tick) and acts as a regular battery.
  • On its own, the battery of a transformer will limit the available power to 1 kW and prevent overload. However, if more batteries or transformers are connected, the increased available power may cause overload damage to happen.

History

• EU-279457: Introduced.
• QLM1-299745: Renamed from Small Power Transformer.
• U51-594767: Potential Load tooltip should now consider Power Transformer consumption.

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