request: mod that changes accumulator priority

[thereaverofdarkness]

I've seen a lot of posts requesting this or similar, some people propose circuit network solutions but they are always extremely complex AND lacking; the whole system just doesn't seem designed for this to be a possibility. It doesn't appear to even have a straightforward solution with mods. Apparently you cannot simply change the priority of accumulators like you can with power generators; accumulators have a hardcoded priority "electric-energy-interface" which is effectively bottom priority in all cases.

From reading other posts and requests, I think that the general consensus (not including people who like the current priority arrangement) is that the problems with priority are as follows, in order from most important to least important:
1.) steam turbine priority is the same as or lower than steam engine, but should be higher (maybe much higher)
2.) steam engine priority should be lower than accumulator priority
3.) (not all agree) steam turbine priority should be below accumulator priority

Vanilla priority: solar panels > steam engines > steam turbines > accumulators

What priority should be: solar panels > steam turbines > accumulators > steam engines
Alternative priority: solar panels > accumulators > steam turbines > steam engines

Someone suggested moving steam turbine priority above solar panels but I don't think that makes any sense or would have a meaningful impact on the game. But I don't know, maybe there is a reason for it.

[macdjord]

I've seen a lot of posts requesting this or similar, some people propose circuit network solutions but they are always extremely complex AND lacking;

• Hook your steam generators to one side of a power switch, and the rest of your base to the other.
• Build an accumulator attached to the 'rest of base' power network and attach it to the switch with coloured wire
• Set the accumulator to output signal [P]
• Set the switch to condition '[P] < 1'

Neither complex nor lacking.

Vanilla priority: solar panels > steam engines > steam turbines > accumulators

Incorrect. Vanilla priority: solar panels > steam engines == steam turbines > accumulators. Steam engines & turbines will always be drawn on equally.

What priority should be: solar panels > steam turbines > accumulators > steam engines
Alternative priority: solar panels > accumulators > steam turbines > steam engines

Note that this would make it utterly impossible to charge accumulators using a steam engine.

Someone suggested moving steam turbine priority above solar panels but I don't think that makes any sense or would have a meaningful impact on the game. But I don't know, maybe there is a reason for it.

There is no point in that. Solar power doesn't cost any resources to generate and any potential solar power not generated when available is lost forever.

[thereaverofdarkness]

Neither complex nor lacking.

Until you try to make it stop flickering. This is a standard solution that is proposed way too often by people with too little experience with the topic. Please stop.

Note that this would make it utterly impossible to charge accumulators using a steam engine.

Many of us would never want to charge accumulators with a steam engine.

[macdjord]

Neither complex nor lacking.

Until you try to make it stop flickering. This is a standard solution that is proposed way too often by people with too little experience with the topic. Please stop.

It is a standard solution because it works. Yes, it flickers. So what? Though if it really bothers you, you can fix that with three combinators. (At that point, you might accurately describe the resulting solution as 'complex', but not 'lacking'.)