Factorio Forums

I'd like to know if a simple method can be created (preferably without multiple combinators or the use of an unnecessary storage tank) to enable a pump when another is on/off. The objective would be so that if a set of pumps are not in use for a certain oil because the pipes are full, then another pump kicks on based on those conditions and sends oil down another path. This would be easier for me to retroactively implement into various setups to move excess liquids than to monitor storage tanks or deal with lost/wasted liquids when needing to move storage tanks. A pump displays its contents, but those contents cannot be read by a power switch, so I'm not sure what an easy solution would be for a player like me.

Hopefully there's a simple, method of doing this (if combinators are required), because I do not understand how to effectively and easily use combinators, despite watching some youtube videos.

Just connect them to the same circuit and set the same (or opposite) condition, depending on if you want them both on at the same time or one off when the other's on.

For your task I would use a measurement tank.
You can place a tank and the primary pump moves your liquid in a primary direction.
Then you can attach the second pump to the same tank and circuit wire it to the tank. You will set an on condition for it that tank has say > 20k oil (25k is the max for full tank). So the second pump will kick in only if you got excess oil.