Beacon: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Frightning (talk | contribs) (fixed type) |
(Moderate clean-up, additional info) |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
|producers =manual + assembling machine 2 + assembling machine 3 | |producers =manual + assembling machine 2 + assembling machine 3 | ||
|extra1 =<tr><td style="text-align:left;">Distribution Efficiency:</td><td style="text-align:right;">0.5</td></tr> | |extra1 =<tr><td style="text-align:left;">Distribution Efficiency:</td><td style="text-align:right;">0.5</td></tr> | ||
|extra2 =Overall effect stacks with multiple beacons covering the same machine. | |||
}} | }} | ||
[[File:factorio-beacon.png|thumb|right|Basic beacon and 12 [[Electric furnace]]s affected by it.]] | |||
A ''beacon'' is a device that transmits [[module]] effects to nearby machines, in a 9x9 square. The effects are transmitted with only half efficiency. However, a beacon allows transmitting the effect of a module to multiple machines and the effect of all beacons around is added together (the effect stacks on a single machine). Additionally, beacons can add qualities beyond the normal effective module cap of an item (module slots), such as boosting a [[Pumpjack]]'s output at peak oil to .25 oil per cycle where, alone, it could only reach .2 yield. | |||
== Usage == | |||
Beacons are '''''best''''' in these scenarios: | |||
* There are a lot of compatible machines in a dense area | |||
This allows the beacon's effect to reach multiple machines, allowing the player to save materials from crafting modules. | |||
* There is one machine that must have an extreme speed of operation | |||
Mining drills are the best example of this. When an ore patch is small but rich, more speed per drill is necessary to meet demand, since adding more drills isn't possible. So, multiple speed module beacons around a mining drill (with modules in the drill itself) can be used to increase the speed of the singular drill several times, to make up for the low quantity of drills. | |||
---- | |||
Beacons should '''''not''''' be used in these scenarios: | |||
* The machine(s) being boosted operate infrequently | |||
This leads to power waste as beacons will always consume power, even when the machines they're boosting are halted. This however can be circumvented with some planning, and using a [[Power switch]]. | |||
* Attempting to boost non-module-compatible machines | |||
Only machines that have module slots will be affected by a beacon. | |||
== Limitations == | |||
* Only buildings with module slots can benefit from modules distributed by beacons(i.e. [[laser turret]] doesn't benefit), and beacons themselves don't benefit from the modules inserted (or other beacons), so their energy cost can't be reduced. | |||
* Currently, only [[Module#Speed_Module|speed]] and [[Module#Effectivity_Module|efficiency]] modules can be used in the basic beacon, and [[Module#Productivity Module|productivity]] modules cannot. | |||
* A beacon's effect transmitted is only half of the effect of the modules within. So, two of the same module = one module's worth transmitted. This limitation can be overcome with more beacons with overlapping areas. | |||
* The beacon itself is 3x3 tiles, making it difficult to fit between buildings sometimes. It may be necessary to place the beacon first and design the system around it. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 01:43, 19 August 2016
File:Factorio-beacon.png
Basic beacon and 12 Electric furnaces affected by it.
A beacon is a device that transmits module effects to nearby machines, in a 9x9 square. The effects are transmitted with only half efficiency. However, a beacon allows transmitting the effect of a module to multiple machines and the effect of all beacons around is added together (the effect stacks on a single machine). Additionally, beacons can add qualities beyond the normal effective module cap of an item (module slots), such as boosting a Pumpjack's output at peak oil to .25 oil per cycle where, alone, it could only reach .2 yield.
Usage
Beacons are best in these scenarios:
- There are a lot of compatible machines in a dense area
This allows the beacon's effect to reach multiple machines, allowing the player to save materials from crafting modules.
- There is one machine that must have an extreme speed of operation
Mining drills are the best example of this. When an ore patch is small but rich, more speed per drill is necessary to meet demand, since adding more drills isn't possible. So, multiple speed module beacons around a mining drill (with modules in the drill itself) can be used to increase the speed of the singular drill several times, to make up for the low quantity of drills.
Beacons should not be used in these scenarios:
- The machine(s) being boosted operate infrequently
This leads to power waste as beacons will always consume power, even when the machines they're boosting are halted. This however can be circumvented with some planning, and using a Power switch.
- Attempting to boost non-module-compatible machines
Only machines that have module slots will be affected by a beacon.
Limitations
- Only buildings with module slots can benefit from modules distributed by beacons(i.e. laser turret doesn't benefit), and beacons themselves don't benefit from the modules inserted (or other beacons), so their energy cost can't be reduced.
- Currently, only speed and efficiency modules can be used in the basic beacon, and productivity modules cannot.
- A beacon's effect transmitted is only half of the effect of the modules within. So, two of the same module = one module's worth transmitted. This limitation can be overcome with more beacons with overlapping areas.
- The beacon itself is 3x3 tiles, making it difficult to fit between buildings sometimes. It may be necessary to place the beacon first and design the system around it.