Solar generator
{{Template:TNTN|building|
|name = Solar generator
|image = SolarCollector.png|128px|Solar generator
|description = Produces electricity from sunlight. Does not work in the dark.
|type = Buildings|Buildings
|type2 = Power|Power
|placeable = y
|size = 4|4
|hp = 300
|efficiency =
|power = + 1700
|buy = 
100
|sell = 50
}}
A solar generator provides up to 1700W of power from sunlight. It has much smaller space requirements than a wind turbine but provides no power at night or during an eclipse. It may be placed in a wind turbine's exclusion zone with no effect on the turbine. Solar generators may be protected by surrounding them with walls, but they must stay unroofed to operate.
Power output is a direct product of the daytime light level. For example, at 50% daylight a solar generator produces 850W of its 1700W maximum. Batteries are a useful supplement to solar generators since they will store power during the day and keep the base online through the night.
Solar generators only care about the world light level so light produced from ordinary sources such as the Standing lamp and Sun lamp will not work on them. The latitude of your starting position will affect solar cycles, with equator zones giving the strong consistent output and the north pole struggling to reach peak output.
Solar generators are made with 100 steel and 3 components
- Power
- Power conduit (Waterproof) • Power switch • Wood-fired generator • Chemfuel powered generator • Wind turbine
- (research)
- Battery • Geothermal generator • Solar generator • Watermill generator • Toxifier generator
- (uncraftable)
- Vanometric power cell • Unstable power cell
- Related
- Ship reactor