Replacing connected chests

[realm174]

Hello all,
I have a bunch of passive provider chests that are interconnected with red wires. I need to replace those with Steel chests, but when I do that, it breaks the connection. Is there a way to do that or am I gonna have to reconnect all of the chests one by one? Thanks!

[Optera]

When you fast replace (build right over the existing chests) it will keep connections intact.
Also works with belts and inserters.

[realm174]

That didn't work for me. It did replace the chest, but the connections didn't remain. I bit the bullet and re-connected everything by hand... thanks tho!

[Bushdoctor]

It should have worked. A circuit wire does not break if you directly (fast) replace a chest.
That means you used the wrong method while thinking you did it right, and that means you will probably have the same problem next time.
Just sayin'....

[realm174]

That means you used the wrong method while thinking you did it right

Hmm not sure which other way to do it.. I clicked on top of the provider chest with the steel chests. It replaced the chest, but did not put back the circuit wire. What other way should I have done it?

[Bushdoctor]

Hmm not sure which other way to do it.. I clicked on top of the provider chest with the steel chests. It replaced the chest, but did not put back the circuit wire. What other way should I have done it?

That is absolutely the correct method. Honestly, I have no idea why it didn't work if you replaced it like that.
The important question is though: What happens when you repeat it? I think it would be hard, if not impossible to replicate the issue that you described...
In other words: You should be okay.

[fractalman]

That means you used the wrong method while thinking you did it right

Hmm not sure which other way to do it.. I clicked on top of the provider chest with the steel chests. It replaced the chest, but did not put back the circuit wire. What other way should I have done it?

There should be no need to put back the wire, the wire should remain right where it is. If you feel it should be replacing the wire, then you are using the wrong method-as with the right method, the wire is never removed in the first place, and thus does not need to be replaced.

[kinnom]

What hotkey have you set for removing wires?

[Bushdoctor]

What hotkey have you set for removing wires?

Hotkey for removing wires?
Aha!
Realm174 probably accidentally pressed that one while replacing the chest.

[kinnom]

What hotkey have you set for removing wires?

Hotkey for removing wires?
Aha!
Realm174 probably accidentally pressed that one while replacing the chest.

IIRC the default for that one is shift+left click

[Deadly-Bagel]

I thought that only worked on power poles? I could certainly never get it to work on Inserters.

Something I did notice is when you fast-replace a chest there's a tick where it's not connected. Accidentally voided a bunch of artefacts upgrading to Passive Providers lol because they're connected in a filter chain from a Loot Chest so they're not allowed to be full.