Solars
The Solar Arrays are backup power source. They are very useful if the Engine is nonfunctional for some reason. As name suggests, solar arrays generate electrical power from sun. While they won't generate as much as other power sources, they are reliable and don't require maintenance if properly set up.
Location
The Tether has one big solar farm on the surface. To get to the solar shed, exit the station through the surface EVA exit and head west, following the powercables until you arive at the shed.
Connecting the Arrays
Required Tools
Wiring Setup
The solar farm isn't connected to the station at the start. You will need to connect the solar panels and the solar tracker to the wire leading from the station.
To wire a tile, hold a cable coil in hand and click an adjacent tile, this will add a wire radiating from the center of the selected tile toward your current position. You will see a "knot" in the center of the tile, when extending the wire across the tile, make sure to click the knot in order to form a straight wire. Make sure the wire coil is in your hands when you click the knot (wiring is often learnt by trial and error).
Using this method, connect the solar arrays and solar tracker to the station. Having excessive knotting in your wiring can sometimes cause power loss, and other such nasties. Knots are best left avoided altogether for this reason - wire your junctions the same way the solar panels are already connected together, with the curving wires. You can also rewire the control room to remove the knots using this same method.
Calibration
As station is orbiting local sun, the solar farm has to be calibrated properly. Usually, the easiest way is simply opening the solar array control console, and pressing the "Auto" button. If you correctly finished the wiring step, solars should automatically calibrate themselves. Also, please note that station blocks sunlight. This means output of the solar array is fluctuating between 0 and 450 000 Watts. To compensate, the SMES power storage units are used.
SMES Setup
SMES units store power generated by the solar farm and send it to the main grid. As the solar farm is often used as backup power source it is recommended to leave the SMES output offline, until they are needed. Alternatively, a well setup array of substations will gladly store the solar power further in the station. SMES setup for the 3 SMES is:
- 140 000W Input, charging mode Auto.
- 100 000W Output, charging mode Online.
This will ensure the SMESs charge as backup power source, which will be ready should Engine failure occur. With the solar farm online the station should have at least 300 000 Watts of power, which is enough to operate life support, AI and other important systems.
Solar Maintenance
Space is full of dangers. While solar arrays provide reliable power source, they may be easily damaged by meteors or other dangers. This section will explain how to repair the array.
Wiring Damage
This problem may be easily fixed by replacing damaged/missing wiring.
Solar Panel(s) Damage
Each solar panel is covered by double glass sheet. If this sheet was damaged it has to be replaced. Crowbar the broken glass out and replace it. If the panel was completely destroyed obtain replacement solar panel assembly. Few assemblies should be in Engineering Storage, alternatively contact Cargo department to order more. Wrench the assembly in place and add protective glass sheets.
Solar Tracker Damage
Solar tracker is special piece of machinery which ensures the solar array is properly aligned. If it's destroyed it has to be replaced. Obtain new solar panel assembly, wrench it in place and then insert solar tracker circuit board. Then add two glass sheets and your new tracker is finished.
Please note that it is not reccomended to have more than one tracker for each solar array.
SMES Damage
SMES units are very expensive to replace. For more information on this complex piece of machinery refer to SMES Manual.
Please note that solar arrays should NEVER be wired into the main grid. If there are two or more arrays in same grid, controllers conflict which usually results in both arrays ceasing to function.
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On the NSB Adephagia and Rascal's Pass feature large solar farms on the surface. On the NSB Adephagia the outside consists of toxic gases so protective equipment is required, however the solar field merely requires the wire to be connected to the SMES and the panels enabled at the console. Conversely, the solar field at Rascal's Pass is easily accessible however wild animals may have messed with the wiring between the solar panels, otherwise the setup is the same and the facility uses so little power it's possible to exclusively function on solar power.
The NRV Stellar Delight has small solar arrays on its deck 2 port and starboard side accessed by the airlock in maintenance near their corresponding control consoles. It is required to go out the airlock into vacuum and wire the solar panels up, then set the console. As there's relatively few solar panels and the angle of the ship to Alat-Hahr can sometimes obstruct them it is largely considered a waste of time to set them up except for the most dire emergencies.
There is also a small array of solar panels on the surface of Menhir which can power the small resort-like area available to NT employees.
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