Laser turrets consuming far more power than expected

[TheNoseKnows]

In the following screenshot, I have 32 accumulators providing 9.6 MW of power for three firing laser turrets (there is a fourth, but it isn't firing). The laser turrets, according to the GUI, consume 2.28 MW each (1.5 + 1.35 shots per second at 800 kW per shot). However, I've noticed that the inserters for the gun turrets never have enough power when the laser turrets are firing, and the graphs show that power consumption can run as high as 21.7 MW, far in excess of the expected 6.84 MW from the three laser turrets.



Apart from the laser turrets, I only have a few inserters and a radar on the same electric network. What is the reason for this high power consumption?

[Impatient]

Needs more pictures and a complete list of entities in this power network for analysis.

I guess the satisfaction graph shows what would be needed to power all entities plus the 9.6 MW to charge the accus. If my guess is correct, it would explain the 21.7 MW number.
But if the accus can provide enough power for all the consumers in the network, the inserters should not run out of power.

[Impatient]

4 Lasers: 2.28 MW x 4 = 9.12 MW
1 Radar: 300 kW
22 Inserters idle: 400 W x 22 = 8.8 kW
22 Inserters working: 13 kW x 22 = 286 kW

max consumption without accus charging: 9.12 MW + 0.3 MW + 0.286 MW = 9.706 MW

Which is more than the 9.6 MW the accus can provide.

[DaveMcW]

This is a known issue with the GUI in low power conditions that the developers currently don't care about fixing.

[Impatient]

This is a known issue with the GUI in low power conditions that the developers currently don't care about fixing.

Do you have a link?

[TheNoseKnows]

I've attached a screenshot of the laser turret electric network in full, as well as the save file.

This is a known issue with the GUI in low power conditions that the developers currently don't care about fixing.

I don't think it's an issue with the GUI, because I can see the inserters stop rotating due to low power.

4 Lasers: 2.28 MW x 4 = 9.12 MW
1 Radar: 300 kW
22 Inserters idle: 400 W x 22 = 8.8 kW
22 Inserters working: 13 kW x 22 = 286 kW

max consumption without accus charging: 9.12 MW + 0.3 MW + 0.286 MW = 9.706 MW

Which is more than the 9.6 MW the accus can provide.

The 22 gun turrets are simply spread too far apart to be able to shoot at the same group of attacking enemies, and I know that the fourth laser turret wasn't firing (no damage or kills registered).

The only thing I can think of is that the main network is somehow drawing power from the accumulators while the laser turrets are firing, which leaves an insufficient amount left for the turret network. But the accumulators shouldn't provide any power for the main network until all the steam engines are at max capacity, which they definitely aren't (about 18/72 MW).

[Impatient]

I loaded the savegame and I can confirm that 3 laser turrets shooting make the consumption in this network hit the roof of 9.6 MW although they should only draw 6.9 MW.

Apart from that, placing 20 beacons into that network (laser turrets not firing), which consume exactly 9.6 MW, makes the satisfaction display 9.6 MW / 49.1 MW . It would be interesting to know, how those 49 MW are calculated. If charging the accumulators is included in the satisfaction, it still should not be higher than 20 MW.

[astroshak]

Apart from that, placing 20 beacons into that network (laser turrets not firing), which consume exactly 9.6 MW, makes the satisfaction display 9.6 MW / 49.1 MW . It would be interesting to know, how those 49 MW are calculated. If charging the accumulators is included in the satisfaction, it still should not be higher than 20 MW.

“Not a bug.” I noticed something similar about the maximum power generation capacity displayed, and reported it. Its not something they plan on doing something about any time soon, if at all.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=82509&p=485367#p485367

[gGeorg]

In the following screenshot, I have 32 accumulators providing 9.6 MW of power for three firing laser turrets

Graph updates in 5s interval, however your firing rate power peak has higher freqency. So your accumlators cycle between source and consumption tab. So you can count laser consumption peak + 9,6MW accu peak. Those peaks do not happen at the same time, however the power consmtion gauge shows an averagee/meadian/max or whatever value is, so as result it might look like lasers consume more but it doesnt. It is accumlators which creeate the "unknown" consumption.
The inserters might get slow down do to timing or what, so I guess fo science, if you add one or two accu to cover those power jitters, you aree fine.
Lasers consume exactly what they say, "wrong" data are result of time scale measure and form of presentation.

I think the accumlators should not be considered as source in GUI, becouse they dont create power.

[Ranger_Aurelien]

This thread reminded me of this other one dedicated to running laser turrets as efficiently as possible (-97%?):

viewtopic.php?f=193&t=69537&p=426705