Question about the functionality of water wheels and crank generators

[molten kernel]

So I am not sure what the answer to this is so I wanted some definitive explanation on how electricity generation functions. Is there more energy produced by having more water wheels connected to a single generator or more generators connected to a water wheel? I often see people have multiple waterwheels, but I don't understand why. In the real world, having more water wheels would generate more torque, which would allow a generator to move faster, generating more power. However, I don't see a difference in terms of the game. It does not say that water wheels generate power. They turn crank generators and generate power and there's nothing showing any sort of difference in that input. So I guess the basic question is, which is more efficient in producing electricity in the game. More waterwheels per generator, or more generators per water wheel

[tidal veldt]

1. Water wheel can power 2 mk1 crank generators

As long as you have enough water wheels, you can add as many cranks as you want per line. Granted later down the road in the game. Your stuff will change

[rancid stag]

You can chain the water wheels but they only ratio at 1:2 on mk 1

so 1:2, 2:4, 3:6

etc

[molten kernel]

But I have successfully connected five. So are you saying that you get diminishing returns when you connect to mini Cranks to a single wheel?

[tidal veldt]

Yes

[rancid stag]

yes you get less

[molten kernel]

I see I did not know this.

I hadn't seen any indicator of that. I guess it's just a math thing that.

[rancid stag]

info like that is planned to be put in Qol in the future

but you can test it manually

[molten kernel]

I see! I'm really new to this genre, so I apologize if I seem ignorant. It's because I am.

Thank you for the information.

[rancid stag]

that's fine it is what this thread is for

np

[molten kernel]

I have a spoiler question as a follow up to this in spoilers if anyone wants to answer it

[rancid stag]

sure

[livid violet]

the ratio for water wheels to crank gen is 2 mk1 crank gen to 1 water wheel, later on the mk2 gen will use 2 water wheels per gen, to get the amount of power the gens can make, hopefully these things are added to the UI soon.

[bronze skiff]

Something like torque satisfaction or something

[stiff matrix]

the information is actually at the bottom left of your screen when you hover over your crank with a pickaxe or some other item that lets you look defaultly. It'll tell you the power they're generating ... it's not the most obvious place unfortunately since its not in the player's field of view but if the numbers start going down, just add more wheels

[rancid stag]

This is why I said you can test it manually above

[molten kernel]

Yeah, I mean that was why the post statement was that I understand torque in real world application; however, I wasn't sure if that applied in the game and if so what that torque ratio was

[green kettle]

Sorry for the necro, I’ve been traveling. The way crank generators and waterwheels interact is each waterwheel produces 400 “torque” (we will call it that for this discussions simplicity) A T2 can consume 800 torque and convert it to power on your electric grid. T2 is 100% efficient. T1 can consume 200 torque but converts it at 75%, thus the cap of 150. The total torque from the waterwheels is summed up and then divided equally between all of the linked cranks. So example, 2 waterwheels and a T1 and T2 crank will produce 800 torque, 400 to each crank. The T2 can consume all 400 given to it for 400 energy to the grid, and the T1 can consume 200 and is only 75% efficient so you only get 150 from it. 550 total energy to grid where as you’d have 800 if you only had the T2

[rancid stag]

I would not recommend putting Mk 1 and Mk 2 cranks on the same line. They can be buggy currently.

[green kettle]

I don’t think it’s a bug, it’s just how the math is done. But yes, no T1s with any T2s is nearly always best