Looping a lane back into the balancer?

[DenFromEarth]

I want to balance 15 lanes and I found multiple posts stating to use the 16x16 balancer and loop the unused lane back into the balancer. Is it better to do this or just not use the 16th lane of output and use all 16 lanes of input? If not, do I just use a splitter with a set priority back into the 16th lane on the loop?

Thanks.

[astroshak]

Is the balancer you want to use Universal Throughput Unlimited? By that, does it take any number of belts of input and distribute them evenly among any number of belts of output?

If yes, then just use the one balancer.

If no, AND you need that particular functionality, then simply put two of the balancer back to back.

Note that balancers tend to be designed assuming full inputs and full outputs. Not using full inputs can lead to some outputs not getting their full expected output. UTU balancers are designed to combat that particular problem.

At least, that’s my limited understanding of balancers.