Factorio Forums

TL DR
Wires should be graphically run in the platform, not as wires above it, and with unlimited range

Why
The circuit wires look weird and work not so great on platforms, because there are no power poles

I don't know if running them in the ground would be better, but I could not agree more with you that there's a problem. Platforms are the best place to use circuit logic, and the most difficult place to use circuit logic.

Wait, can you not place power poles on space platforms by default? I recall being able to do that in a creative test world with the Editor Extensions mod...
If this isn't doable in vanilla, I think circuit wires on platforms needs to be addressed ASAP.

(Also I agree that even if it is possible in vanilla it still looks odd to see wires hanging and drooping in what should be a zero-gravity environment. I would support either embedding them in the platform or making them connect in straight lines between some new space power pole entities. But with the embedded option, would it be graphical only, or are you suggesting making it impossible for them to pass through buildings (and if it's graphical, how would one show the difference between wires passing under buildings versus connecting to them)?

You can use poles on the ship, but it could be better. I made this suggestion, which got merged into another: viewtopic.php?p=633673#p633673

I literally made my first ever quality roller, for epic *small electric poles*, just so I could have some that don't obstruct the view but have a reasonable wire reach.

I just thought of another possible solution: underground circuit conduits. It would be a small 1x1 entity with red and green connections, much like the constant combinator. When you connect it to another conduit with a wire, the connection doesn't show up in the normal view. But when you hover it or hold any combinator in your cursor, you see the underground connections, much like pipe undergrounds.

I think I'll make a proper suggestion thread for it this evening.

Edit: Decided not to wait. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=120249&p=634676#p634676