Reactor network setup

[brunzenstein]

Pls help.

I have a problem setting the network settings in the requester chests and fast inserters correct so they limit the entry of a full cell to 1 depending on the T value showing the temperature of the reactor.

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

Copy blueprint

[Loewchen]

An inserter can only have one condition so you can either use a combinator with both, temperature and fuel condition and send an activate signal to the inserter or use the 1.1 method of pulsed output inserter hand contents for the fuel condition.
Generally you should use a single reactors state for all inserters so they run synchronized, otherwise you lose the neighboring bonus and waste more fuel than you save.

[Tertius]

To make sure there is never more than 1 cell in a reactor, and it is the burning one, you need to check for 2 conditions at the same time. An inserter must only insert, if the reactor temperature is below a threshold (for example 700°C) AND there are 0 fuel cells in the reactor.

with <= using as comparison, both conditions can be made the same:
reactor <= 700°C
AND
fuel cells <= 0

Subtract the threshold 700 from the temperature equation, and you get this:
reactor - 700 <= 0
AND
fuel cells <= 0

This can be set as single comparison in the inserters:
EVERYTHING <= 0

The only thing you additionally need is a constant combinator with T=-700 (negative 700) to subtract the threshold.
To actually build this, remove all circuits you already made.
Connect exactly 1 reactor with the 4 cell inserting inserters with green wire.
Set the reactor to read fuel and to read temperature.
Set all the inserters to stack size 1 and set the activation condition to EVERYTHING <= 0
connect a constant combinator with the above with green wire and add the signal T=-700 to make 700°C the threshold.
That's all. All reactors will get a fuel cell at the same time if the connected reactor gets below the threshold. It's sufficient to monitor just one reactor, because they will all have the same temperature and the same amount of fuel cells (0 or 1). It will work, because reading the amount of fuel cells in the reactor includes the currently burning cell.

[brunzenstein]

To make sure there is never more than 1 cell in a reactor, and it is the burning one, you need to check for 2 conditions at the same time. An inserter must only insert, if the reactor temperature is below a threshold (for example 700°C) AND there are 0 fuel cells in the reactor.

with <= using as comparison, both conditions can be made the same:
reactor <= 700°C
AND
fuel cells <= 0

Subtract the threshold 700 from the temperature equation, and you get this:
reactor - 700 <= 0
AND
fuel cells <= 0

This can be set as single comparison in the inserters
EVERYTHING <= 0

The only thing you additionally need is a constant combinator with T=-700 (negative 700) to subtract the threshold.
To actually build this, remove all circuits you already made.
Connect exactly 1 reactor with all the inserters with green wire.
Set the reactor to read fuel and to read temperature.
Set all the inserters to stack size 1 and set the activation condition to EVERYTHING <= 0
connect a constant combinator with the above with green wire and add the signal T=-700 to make 700°C the threshold.
That's all. All reactors will get a fuel cell at the same time if the tagged reactor gets below the threshold. It's sufficient to monitor just one reactor, because they will all have the same temperature and the same amount of fuel cells (0 or 1). It will work, because reading the amount of fuel cells in the reactor includes the currently burning cell.

Brilliant – thank you so much for this tip!
Sometimes you really can’t see the forest for the trees.

[Tertius]

The blueprint is incomplete, by the way. The outer 6 steam turbines behind the substations are not connected to steam.

[Mr Wednesday]

There is a slightly easier way to guarantee that you only ever put one cell in. Set up your reload condition on one inserter set to remove the spent fuel cell from the reactor. Wire a circuit to the inserter, reading hand contents. Wire that to the inserters that put fuel into the reactors. Give them a hand size of one, and act only on reading an empty fuel cell signal.

That eliminates the need to include a circuit condition for fuel state of the reactor.

Note that only one reactor needs to have the removal handled this way, the others can all have a non-controlled inserter that removes immediately when the fuel cell is spent.

[Khagan]

There is a slightly easier way to guarantee that you only ever put one cell in. Set up your reload condition on one inserter set to remove the spent fuel cell from the reactor. Wire a circuit to the inserter, reading hand contents. Wire that to the inserters that put fuel into the reactors. Give them a hand size of one, and act only on reading an empty fuel cell signal.

That was the right (indeed only) way to do it before it became possible (with 2.0) to read the contents of the reactor. But I wouldn't call it 'easier', and it's more fragile than checking the contents.

[brunzenstein]

I have a problem setting individual items and quantities in a requester chest - clicking on the empty boxes does nothing thought.
Specifying a group results that a whole stack is provided

[Tertius]

You configure the requests of a requester chest in the middle section, where the 1 fuel cell icon is shown. Click one of the empty spaces next to the 1 fuel cell icon, just above the "Add section" button. Your chest currently requests 1 fuel cell and in the chest present are 50 cells, so no more cells are currently being requested.

[Mr Wednesday]

There is a slightly easier way to guarantee that you only ever put one cell in. Set up your reload condition on one inserter set to remove the spent fuel cell from the reactor. Wire a circuit to the inserter, reading hand contents. Wire that to the inserters that put fuel into the reactors. Give them a hand size of one, and act only on reading an empty fuel cell signal.

That was the right (indeed only) way to do it before it became possible (with 2.0) to read the contents of the reactor. But I wouldn't call it 'easier', and it's more fragile than checking the contents.

The part that I'm arguing is easier is that you don't need to explicitly check on the reactor contents in the combinator recipe, which can potentially cut out a combinator entirely. Arguably, the bigger deal with 2.0 is the ability to read the reactor temperature directly, instead of using a steam buffer fill level.

Re fragility, I've never had a problem with it. I'm running reactor sets on Nauvis, Gleba, and Aquilo on my current SA game.

[Tertius]

The concept with using the used fuel cell to trigger inserting the new one is obsolete, because it requires the engineer to manually insert the first cell. It isn't robust, because it cannot handle the situation you accidentally inserted too many fuel cells. It has also more latency and requires a steam buffer to operate. The approach to check the temperature and reactor content will always work in contrast to this and requires nothing more than a constant combinator and a proper configuration.

[jdrexler75]

The concept with using the used fuel cell to trigger inserting the new one is obsolete

I'd say it's not completely obsolete, it's still very useful before Kovarex, when U-235 is precious, and when my reactor is vastly oversized for the neighbour bonuses to make U-235 last longer. A large steam buffer is cheap, but using the temperature readout will still waste U-235 until the reactor runs with at least 60 - 70% duty cycle, at which point you probably have Kovarex anyway and worrying about fuel usage is basically pointless.

[mmmPI]

The concept with using the used fuel cell to trigger inserting the new one is obsolete

I'd say it's not completely obsolete, it's still very useful before Kovarex, when U-235 is precious, and when my reactor is vastly oversized for the neighbour bonuses to make U-235 last longer. A large steam buffer is cheap, but using the temperature readout will still waste U-235 until the reactor runs with at least 60 - 70% duty cycle, at which point you probably have Kovarex anyway and worrying about fuel usage is basically pointless.

I disagree with the idea that using the temperature readout will waste U-235, even in this situation. You can use the temperature readout and use a large steam buffer together, there would be no wasted uranium, it would all turn into steam.

You can use the used fuel cell as trigger for the new one without steam buffer, and count on "heat buffer" just fine too, it's just going to yield heat pipe heavy blueprints, it doesn't necessarily has more latency than with steam, and you can make complicated circuit to handle the first insertion. It is much more complex though, so i agree with Tertius there, i think "obsolete" is somewhat appropriate because reading temperature and fuel cell presense is much simpler.

Arguably, the bigger deal with 2.0 is the ability to read the reactor temperature directly, instead of using a steam buffer fill level.

I agree, it makes it much simpler, you don't need to read steam buffer anymore for the logic but sometimes you'd still want to use a steam buffer, even if you never read its actual level or use it for anything else than buffering steam, you only "need" to measure how "big" it needs to be, build it once, and then rely on temperature and fuel cell presense to manage the re-fueling. This allows to make sure that even in the case when the power consumption stops just after inserting fuel, no energy is wasted. The "better of both world", large and cheap buffer of steam, but "simple" circuit logic only based on temperature and fuel presence in the reactor, for the re-fueling.

[Tertius]

using the temperature readout will still waste U-235 until the reactor runs with at least 60 - 70% duty cycle

Not with a steam buffer. I didn't say a steam buffer is obsolete, I only said it's obsolete as source for reactor control with the new temperature readout. My own designs include a steam buffer of course to NOT waste fuel cells with low power usage. By using the temperature the general latency is much lower. The circuit is able to react much faster to temperature changes than before. Previously the temperature rises, so more heat exchangers activate, so more steam is produced, so the threshold is reached. Now the temperature rises, and the threshold is reached immediately and inserting of a new fuel cell is postponed or resumed much earlier.


I even actively control the steam buffer, but that's just my personal preference with some kind of overengineering. To have zero waste and at the same time to keep the heating up time for maximum power output as small as possible, it's necessary to keep the reactor as hot as possible and not let it cool down to 500°C as it usually happens with steam buffers. But if you insert fuel cells if the reactor is still hot, the steam buffer is still full and cannot take more steam. So the reactor needs to stay as hot as possible as required to keep all heat exchangers above 500°C. And the steam buffer needs to stay as empty as possible, so its capacity is fully available when needed.

For my setup (a tiled 12 reactor setup), the first threshold temperature is 735°C.

So I have pumps between the heat exchangers and the steam buffer. Steam turbines are directly connected to the steam buffer. If the reactor temperature is below 735 the pumps are closed, so it's able to heat up. Except the steam buffer is completely empty, in this case the pumps open of course to enable turbine power production. In this case, not maximum power is available, because not all heat exchangers work. This is the initial startup phase.

If the temperature raises above 735°C, the pumps are enabled and the steam buffer is filled up to a small minimum required for full power production (1k per tank, otherwise the pipe throughput is too low).
If the steam buffer is above minimum, the pumps close again. The reactor heats up and the steam buffer stays as empty as it can.
When the reactor raises above 935°C, the pumps open to cool the reactor and the steam buffer finally fills. It's sized in a way that if in this stage the power consumption becomes zero, almost all energy of a just inserted new fuel cell can go into the steam buffer and into the reactor temperature. The reactor just barely reaches 1000°C.
A fuel cell is inserted if the reactor is below 735°C and fuel is empty.

Sounds complicated, but actually it's just 1 decider combinator and 1 constant combinator, additionally 1 circuit connected steam buffer tank.
This is the first reactor setup I'm fully satisfied with

[brunzenstein]

I have used this simple setup and it works - controlling T on all 4 reactors, no steam and inserting only 1 rod per cycle

0eNrtnW1yG0lyhq/iwG/Q0flR/aGwb+H9tTGhAKmWBmGK4ILg7I43dADfwyfzSYwGRYKjQSrzob3h2Y2JjR0RVOtFdeXb1flmZlX+dXV9+zjf77d3h9W7v64e7jb3V4fd1af99sPy+S+rd61br35e/viyXm2uH3a3j4f5arnufnv3afXusH+c16v73cP2sN3dXe3n281h+9P8DYj5CcT8CLK92d09rN798fht2093m9vlkrvN53n1bnX3eHM7b/ZHlM3NYbdfLVfffZiPAPLlh/Vqvjscv2V++senDz+/v3v8fD3vjxesn0E+zx+2j5+v5tv55rDf3lzd727n1XmIX0ek/9xOQ7o6/vDly/pXeArxRBJAowPsEkCngFMC2CCgjQlgDwF9SACHF8CHIz02n+armx/nh8MFpGego1WOJNrPf3o8Xvf+4/b2MO8fTkw/jmT7TMQzyS596/jyrfvd9e5+t7/whU8PSfe//q6p8F3t/+rLpHs1n/Pm89XhcX+9vZvj+fTLdhGpAg0JkFaBpEuQrIxkCZKXkfoEqZWRpgSpryKpJkhDGaklSGMZaUyQpiqSyfeRtMxwSyiuZYpbwnEtc9wTjmuZ455wXMsc94Tjeub4/fb+qx+we7z7EK8FQ4DUl5Febi+CGuhCNwVArzj+eP1w2Jz+6a/v7AnjIsKEV7hgLNbhFS5CErzCRUiKV7gIyfAKFyF5yWbaYqNZw0tbNJgeL20R0oCXtghpxEtbhDThpS1A8q5kNLfYaC54TYsGc2b19fZT5sV+dc8uj8kI0hOQyEUkx+usPDnDH7b7Jxfx6NleAm582S0i93QVluAl4wP1N0OkES/HIdSE1+MIqnV4QQ6hBK/IIZTiJTmEMux1hlCO1+YQquHFOYTq8eocQg14eQ6hRrw+h1AT9j0jqL7DC3UIJb9YvOKwjwSeYq8JgGUAlgC0DMATAM8AWgLQZwB9AjBkAEMCMGYAYwIwZQBTAvASrosQhi5D6DKEjIuSkXHIyCgZG4eMjZKxacjoKBmhh4yPkhFyyAgpGSOHjJGSMWrIKCkZqYeMk5oxasw4qRmrx3R9zBg1ZpzUjNVjxknNGDVmnNSM1WPGSc0YNWac1IzVY8ZJzTg5ZpzUjJNjxknLODllnLSMk1PGScsYNaUv7YzVU8ZJyxg1ZZy0jNVTxknLGDVlnLSM1VPGScsYNWWctIzVU8ZJzzgpXUZKlxQiY6VbCpHR0jWFyHjpnkKk/mRLITJmep9CZNT0IYUYyoGJq5eJnb4NTIhexB7L2BJC+0XkqYz8MugxyrJ1VXUzRQhnVv84bw5X819uftzcfTr+XSwzpstIWkYaEiQrI5197gDK61CWQLU6VJ9A9XWoKYEaylBnPyyAGstuWMimqeyHRRCvEnTpDSU80jq3LeGR1sltCY+0zm5LeKR1dlvCI62z2xMeaZ3d5zdNAFVf4c+vi2ix1LH8xgnJORWDQYtyu1yE0FURJEKoRrTiMSh+A6mU3m32Dbe/H6+KB+gVmJbCtArMkML0FZg+hRkqMFMKM1ZgxhRmqsC8BMVCHO9KOF2KIyWclNuuJZz0OfUSkyXloJeoLOkj4SUuS8pCL5FZ0ofCS2x+8V7C1cxLdJaUzz6x8UQ4rcTnF3chvK8mDCccT4nPlj6nrcRnS5+vVuKzpc9XK/HZ0ueilfhs6XPaSny29PlqJT5b+ny1Ep8t5XNf43P6fPUlPnvKw77EZ0+fi77maaQ87Et89vS56Et89pSHfYnPnj4XacbNUwr2I3e+f+0nXg6vpOk4T5+0NB93hogW6aHsSluE8AZXWiulMfJNou57yPYa+SKWV0VHeJ91efhCca3cZV/MbccjG4rp9RhhLKbHY4SpmB8PEdJE3pQiSDHFHiPUYxwjsfEIwnmCgL2a04/vuVWT+jFEX83qxxBDNa0fQ4z1SXY0yVO1YCAcW5oRlPQZneqhvLN2qdxemimU9NlNU4WSLiCvcoUfNw+Hq+3dw7w/fDcefML65k27Xt3s7g773e376/nHzU/b3X75Vzfb/c3j9vB+vttc384fnnfoPf/6+E8+vHzDx+3+4fD+vA3v8PP9MqiftvvD4/E357Ks0xVX80/z/ufDj8u+vy+nL384bJZ9g93y4fP9Zr9ZNu29W/33f/7XcsHt7tP24bC9+f53fv2Kx/3mbtki9vFxvr26mW9vv/8V/3L666/3dOTGh/f7efPh/efdh/m0F/D5rx7m4/8Pm5t/P37jf8xPk3H8ly/7pV7tkVrHQ1mv/nScj6MNlz2Ku/3n09z8Yjz/ulo2KD4+zOetWE9fdcH650Xo6/ateR/tY5Pxl/b/nsGXe3+/+/h+dz/vN185csHuZ2J83Nw+zGAT2d9k2pZfPC4WXvao/fBqMPvd5/fXjx8/nufy4mT2LBAQ+UyvEt/fbkKNMytffbtLRjmx8fpxfzfv3y8T8vwYnn5/mD+fbPS4n59//+pX9efx31ZfLt/MCG5m+K3fzFR/XEzqj8uFB+L/aaX8+34E9VWxRfI2sy58m/nvL7O/x5eZdjDwGe22T2tlLHOrtQOZVgVOo6YVNGbp2Fq1viyGqOdZraHbG6qVa/HYxmrpWgwxVWvXQoi0PMamFALUEBBVrKLVwrp4bFati4sh6hUELuj2WrXgLh5bX62WiyGGas1eDDFWq+ViiKk+yUSbq3bVYsBwbCr1IG+frdmq5ZBsOB4rx61DCH9D3LoUlNVXVTLPL++r44vyenu3uehLn0M/LXQ/z24ddPFS9xm5elfWdd3i7n25PKmvtq8dgW6vbjef778XqGqRdQYIFB6aUNt5L8/juQwylcM/4ZELXRkimpPX2+2/Nyd9CqQQKLwp4wGpVikR0le1PUcBuhwMdb/f/bT9UAl5hLfd+Gi9Ntr+7aMN53agmGcVG87A+HbMcJwTl3GtlP5Tf4NC9CJ0efNIeONelx6RPV6VD33vQbR0uXxVP1QDCm+qlZZL++5y6bW3gKXriw8QKJyfkadJh9K73su1nn108E21Oj9GEJ5ejk68aVpNlIajsWqyNkTwaqI0RKjuZY4R+mqqNUSo7maOEcZy5jKEmMqZywii78qZyxBCypnLEELLCcYQwsoJxhDCy15cCFHe1hxD9G/JBPXoSMO/ecR4vVrWqPvj7/9wxFq9IYD8qnip7M/1v6dD/0EiyP3IMnjhaXHTWzJ4w28y6aWvqt1ABu+3ejPC3f/+9wTRP8bjPShLEIUnONpb0sC/sXflG16OeTFn6rWlB7BY6rWlhZuWulxp5aaljl9aummp15bWblrqtY31NFMIIeVsUAih5YxLCFFPKIUQXk7ahBCtnLQJIfpy0iaEGMq5lRBifENupRacGOv189Ho0qpMT5+dSd6QaYnW80n5aQ7LcTaVoGB+msszYHTM71QuoR8jhFaNBoVj6Hk0aCyFuacB7dsNBziifbshzMQ3G4yXD0Tu0Nbd8FxlQRuJQxhFO4BDGON1+sH0ONpLHA6osT3AIU7/ho0CwZ0NbHtzOKSRbUsOcSa2LTk8l7tj24lDHHnDdoHLUy3KdkqHQ7I3lPgHQ3K2yTkcEtx0HeLAmuQxwoGbrsPxwE3XIc7EpFx0Xwo3XYdnzQvbLB3i6BsKBy9TUY3tlw6H5Gz/dojT2H7pEKdn+7dDnOENRYzBVMOt1+GQJrYVPOxX0L2hdPDyrZmwXdzhkJTtKg9x7A1lg8GtOdsQHg6psQ3qIU7PNoSHOAPboB7ijGxDeIgzsQ3qYe+M7g3FjJdNn5ZqePqMeb3iMHr5eL3iMBzFWyoOa9LVQPeFZ05aqfmCeV8UpNZF9z3gwwNNKiMb8VGCNdyJHyxYAm4dP2awBiz80MEasPIjCGvAxg8krAGXz3gO+ZoWj7yccBhD9Px4wtrtDfywwhrwyI8urAFP/CDDEnDf8WMNa8DCDzmsASs/8rAGbPzNUlz+87YSQ/YwpBUvL3yKWqD25XdQiDAUi9JihLFYGBcjVM//CBHSw2z6FKF6/keMoMXCuBjBqmVtMYRXy9piiFatSYshymd6xBBDtawthhirZW0xRHl/QwiRZjcl5Waa3ZSUnGl2U1J25m0mUmrlfSZSgueNJlJ25p0mUnbmrSZSauW9JlKCp1lMTamVZjE1JXjabkJTaqWnyGhK8DxFmVIrz1GmBM9bTqTUyntOpASfypUhMcRYrU+JIcqVIRGEp20nbEghypUhMYRW61NiiHJlSAzh1fqUGKJVi0tiiL5aXBJDlCtDYojypuIYolwBEkJIuQIkhqg3wX6GahFUuZlkn0KVm0lOKVS917umWPVu7y3FKreTPPtWIVa947ukWPWe755ilTtKnl/yERbo+96lWHXSp6yv9363lPb17u+W8h70f095r2Xee8p70AP+Zb7GCAt0l9AUbOSNnP1yI+d6R/hnenkQoXHrQHv6YDj1ZvBTOhzFq2mMZXg1jbEcr6YxVsOraYzVk071kf0GvIzGAxrxMhpjTXgZDbG8w8tojCV4GY2xlHStDwzohtfPeED+hs713l3Gangt9tI5K+49X5mr0ANeXKN3Ub1VfJ9CTXiNjaBAq3hNsYSvsSGW8jU2xDK+xoZYjj3WGKvxpTbE6vlSG2INfKkNsUa+1IZYE19qIyzQND7lfS98xQ2xzrzf765397v9IfIHWwf2pi0nNV36utePxm6/+TRHm+KeR946tCcu+l4v3GZ7433+sF79+biuL3/xR1m3ta7bD+s/Hv+7ttNPx/+u/fTT8b/L/44/LX/2T9eNy4V+/tnt/PNyjtQJYvmXRzfiBNItP+v55+X0lNOH5SuXd+jpw+lbv/7z5QhvXS871/X06fjnejl29/xp2Y+8fFqORz1+GuTpky53swzi6dP4CkW/DvZpUKcxrP3rsE7XnDGXP9fLJuHTp+H1N/gvUE5/rhfH8ulT/wrTX93eccYP29v5yRS/2n5zsuKVfXl9GtrNfj7Mq4Ua314u6PIOXc2wn0eubOSKRq5o5MWr2cANXe3o6oau7tHVA7p6RFdPzDrQmMyawswpzJ7CDCrMosJMKsymwowqzKrKrKrwGWVWVWZVZVZVZlVlVlVmVWVWVWZVY1Y1ZlWDSy+zqjGrGrOqMasas6oxqxqzqjOrOrOqM6s6fKMyqzqzqjOrOrOqM6s6s2pjVm3Mqs/+nTD/TpB/J8i/E+TfCfLvBPl3gvw7Qf6dIP9OkH8nyL8T5t8J8++E+XfC/Dth/p0w/06YfyfMvxPm3wnz74T5d8L8O2H+nTD/Tph/J8y/E+bfCfPvhPl3wvw7Yf6dMP9OmH8nzL8T5t8J8++E+XfC/Dth/p0w/06YfyfMvxPm3wnz74T5d8L8O2H+nTD/Tph/J8y/E+bfCfPvBPl3HXLvOuLddcS564hv1xHXriOeXUccu474dR1x6zri1XXEqeuQT9chl65DHl2HHLoO+XMdcuc65M11yJnrkC/XIVeuQ55chxy5DvlxHXLjOuTFdciJ65AP1yEXrkMeXIccuA75bx1y3zrkvXXIeeuQ79Yh161DnluHHLcO+W0dcts65LV1yGnrkM/WIZetQx5bhxy2DvlrHXLXOuStdchZ65Cv1iFXrUOeGgvEoTgcCsOhKBwKwqEYHArBoQgcCsCh+BsKv7HoGwu+sdgbC72xyBsLvLG4Gwu7sagbC7qxmBsLubGIGwu4sXgbC7exaBsLtrFYGwu1sUgbC7SxOBsLs7EoGwuysRgbC7GxCBsLsLH4GguvsegaC66x2BoLrbHIGgussbgaC6uxqBoLqrGYGiuJQxVxqCCOZalZkprlqFmKmmWoWekkqpxEhZOGZtvQbBuabUOzzeo9Hc22k9l2MtuOZtvRbDuabUez7Wi2G5rtRma7kdluaLYbmu2GZruh2W5otns02z2Z7Z7Mdo9mu0ez3aPZ7tFs92i2BzTbA5ntgcz2gGZ7QLM9oNke0GwPaLZHNNsjme2RzPaIZntEsz2i2R7RbI9otic02xOZ7YnM9oRme0KzPaHZntBsTywyypLYgrLYgtLYwmLRwoLRwqLRwsLRAuPRMCDNItIsJA11JRSWUFlCacm0pTBxKUhdCpKXwvSlMIEpTGEKk5jCNKYwkSlIZQqSmcJ0pjChKUxpCpOawrSmMLEpSG0KkpvC9KYwwSlMcQqTnMI0pzDRKUh1CpKdwnSnMOEpTHkKk57CtKcw8SlIfQqSn8L0pzABKkyBCpOgwjSoMBEqSIUKkqHCdKgwISpMiQqTosK0qDAxKkiNCpKjwvSoMEEqTJEKk6TCNKkwUSpIlQqSpcJ0qTBhKkyZCpOmwrSpMm2qSJsq0qbKtKkybapMmyrTpsq0qTJtqkibKtKmyrSpMm2qTJsq06YK854w8ckynyz1CXOfMPkJs58w/cm0qTJtqkibKtKmyrSpMm2qTJsq06bKtKkybapImyrSpsq0qTJtqkybKtOmyrSpMm2qSJsq0qbKtKkybapMmyrTpsq0qTJtqkibKtKmyrSpMm2qTJsq06bKtKkybapImyrSpsq0qTJtqkybKtOmyrSpMm2qSJsq0qbKtKkybapMmyrTpsq0qTJtqkibKtKmyrSpMm2qTJsq06bKtKkxbWpImxrSpsa0qTFtakybGtOmxrSpMW1qSJsa0qbGtKkxbWpMmxrTpsa0qTFtakibGtKmxrSpMW1qTJsa06YGa3NhcS6rzmXlubA+FxbowgpdWKLLtKkxbWpImxrSpsa0qTFtakybGtOmxrSpMW1qSJsa0qbGtKkxbWpMmxrTpsa0qTFtakibGtKmxrSpMW1qTJsa06bGtKkxbWpImxrSpsa0qTFtakybGtOmxrSpMW1qSJsa0qbGtKkxbWpMmxrTpsa0qTFtakibGtKmxrSpMW1qTJsa06bGtKkzbepImzrSps60qTNt6kybOtOmzrSpM23qSJs60qbOtKkzbepMmzrTps60qTNt6kibOtKmzrSpM23qTJs606bOtKkzbepImzrSps60qTNt6kybOtOmDvePwg2kbAcp20IK95DCTaRwFyncRsq0qTNt6kibOtKmzrSpM23qTJs606bOtKkzbepImzrSps60qTNt6kybOtOmzrSpM23qSJs60qbOtKkzbepMmzrTps60qTNt6kibOtKm1avZwA1d7ejqhq7u0dUDunpEV0/MOtCYzJrCzCnMnsIMKsyiwkwqzKbCjCrMqsqsqvAZZVZVZlVlVlVmVWVWVWZVZVZVZlVjVjVmVYNLL7OqMasas6oxqxqzqjGrGrOqM6s6s6ozqzp8ozKrOrOqM6s6s6ozqzqzamNWbcyqz/4di4I7ioI7ioJXr2YDN3S1o6sburpHVw/o6hFdPTHrQGMyawozpzB7CjOoMIsKM6kwmwozqjCrKrOqwmeUWVWZVZVZVZlVlVlVmVWVWVWZVY1Z1ZhVDS69zKrGrGrMqsasasyqxqxqzKrOrOrMqs6s6vCNyqzqzKrOrOrMqs6s6syqjVm1Mas+nzTJ8u0N5dsbyrc31AuqoWZQDXWDaqgdVEP9oBpqCNVQR6iGWkI11hOqsaZQjXWFaqwtVGN9oRprDNVYZ6jGWkM11huqseZQjXWHaqw9VGP9oRprENVYh6jGWkQ11iOqsSZRjXWJaqxNVGN9ohprFNVYp6jGWkU11iuqsWZRjXWLaqxdVGP9ohprGNVYx6jGWkY11jOqsaZRjXWNaqxtVGN9oxprHNVYZV9jlX2NVfY1VtnXWGVfY5V9DVX2NVTZ11AHqYZaSDXUQ6qhJlINdZFqqI1UQ32kGmok1VgnqcZaSTXWS6qxZlKNdZNqrJ1UY/2kGmso1VhHqcZaSjXWU6qxplKNdZVqrK1UY32lGmss1VhnqcZaSzXWW6qx5lKNdZdqrL1UY/2lGmsw1ViHqcZaTDXWY6qxJlONdZlqrM1UY32mGms01VinqcZaTTXWa6qxZlONdZtqrN1UY3sIGttD0Ngegsb2EFy+/If1anuYPx9/d337ON/vt3eH1Xp1u7meb4+/+8N+c/dPd/Ofj7/6ad4/nDBbr5NPUxtU1Tv58uV/APZq0VU=

Copy blueprint

[brunzenstein]

Generally you should use a single reactors state for all inserters so they run synchronized, otherwise you lose the neighboring bonus and waste more fuel than you save.

Is this the case?
If I connect a wire to 4 reactors to check the temperature I will loose the neighboring bonus?

[mmmPI]

If I connect a wire to 4 reactors to check the temperature I will loose the neighboring bonus?

The risk is when the 4 inserters do not insert at the same time, it can cause the loss of neighbor bonus if only 2 inserts, and the temperature increase right away, and the other two don't insert.

If you connect the 4 reactor, "together" and read the total temperature , it's not the same as if you connect "each of the 4 reactor to their dedicated inserter". The second option is more risky for the neighbour bonus.

Edit : when looking at your blueprint, it's even simpler than what was discussed i think, no combinator required ! i like it, it cannot insert a new fuel cell before the old one is removed, as both the burning fuel and the burned fuel would count on the circuit alongside temperature, it's not super straightforward but quite minimalistic result x)

Now if you think of it, do you need to connect the 4 reactors and use - 3000 ? or could you just go with 1 reactor and use -750 ? seem to work the same to me.

[brunzenstein]

Now if you think of it, do you need to connect the 4 reactors and use - 3000 ? or could you just go with 1 reactor and use -750 ? seem to work the same to me.

I tried the -750 with one reactor for several hours, but it didn’t work out for me at reliable as with four.
I don’t know why it is so, but that is life.