Power Modulating

[Hex-Advure]

I'm currently trying to make a sensor system that detects when a laser turret is firing. in order to do this, i scan whenever a accumulator loses charge. the problem is, that even when the turret isn't firing, it drains. this causes my factory to think enemies are attacking when they aren't. what i need is for the laser turrets (Or the accumulator) only to get charged by the amount of drain the turret has.
one solution would be that i have a solar panel for every 12 turrets, but my design doesn't have the space for that many solar panels.

[DaveMcW]

Attach an accumulator to both your laser turret electric network and your main electric network. Accumulators only transfer 300kW, so you can limit the charging to roughly the amount you need.

[Hex-Advure]

Attach an accumulator to both your laser turret electric network and your main electric network. Accumulators only transfer 300kW, so you can limit the charging to roughly the amount you need.

300kW is equal to the drain of 60 Laser turrets, meaning for every 60 laser turrets i have, i need a accumulator. this works, but you need to have a multiple of 60 laser turrets. i only have 34 turrets. my base is also run by solar power, so at night, the accumulator will charge both electric networks, making the accumulator to turret ratio out of sync. i would have to make another electric network power by steam.

EDIT: sorry, i just realized what you mean. if i have a steam engine on a seperate electric network, i can add things with drain until the excess power is just the right amount to power the turrets' drain. thx

[Vegemeister]

Differential reference accumulator. Somewhere in your base far away from the frontline, so no biters will come in range, build a copy of your measurement setup. Compare the charge level on that accumulator to the charge on the one powering a laser turret that could have conceivably shot at something.