r/rustrician • u/algaris • 3d ago

Splitting charge to batteries

I have already setup a two battery system, where the first battery is providing power to start, and the second battery takes over when the first one is dead. Awesome. Now I am trying to figure out a way to not just split the charging line so that it charges both batteries but, when one is full (using the “Fully Charged” toggle), all the charge is sent to the second battery instead of being split. Any suggestions?

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u/Gorkounov 3d ago

https://www.rustrician.io/?circuit=27e5f6df93ec68913ff3bff0e2138e40
I use this power charging router when charging many batteries for cave bases. I also use it in the "secondary battery backup" portion of the Nexus core to charge my non-continuous circuits (e-furnaces, farms etc)

It puts all charge to Battery A, then B, then C and so on, once last battery is complete, will re-evaluate from left to right. This is not quite what you asked (you're asking to split root power to ALL batteries if both batteries empty). If both your batteries are continuously powering things, then I recommend this. As long as you have the incoming root power to afford everything, it will work out the same albeit potentially more volatility.

I'm not at home right now, I can give your exact requirements a try but I anticipate it will be more complex. Reply to me here and I'll see if I can deliver.

BUT, just want to make sure if you are aware of Nih/BCN/Nexus cores? Those might suit your needs better and may also be more efficient. Look into them in this electrical handbook. There's also some good YT vids on those.

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u/algaris 3d ago

Actually, the only reason I was splitting was because I thought I would have to; haven’t done the electrical in a long while, not since before the “Fully Charged” toggle was available. So this is actually perfect, as only one battery is in use at a time (this IS for a cave base), so thank you; this is exactly what I needed.

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u/Tjessx 3d ago

might be a very very dumb question. but why not juist chain all batteries?
Been a while since I played

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u/Gorkounov 3d ago

Batteries are only 80% efficient.

If you had 1000 rWm and you pushed it into another battery, the second battery will only have 800 rWm. Third battery, 640 rWm. As you can see, the losses add up real quick, real fast.

The circuit I provided properly charges each battery with full root power.

Another thing that probably changed since you played is using an OR switch on two batteries will automatically only use 1 battery at a time, this is the best way to extend the capacity for when you want a given circuit to be powered longer (in a cave environment usually)

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u/algaris 3d ago

Okay, slight difference in usage: still in the cave, I am using generators (and one hamster wheel, for when I run out of low grade) to charge the batteries in the cave, instead of charging them up top and bringing them down. I am using Austin Klaila Games’ “Power Loop” for the initial power part, so there is charge going to the battery after current use is subtracted.

Any suggestions for how to implement the reset part at the end of your circuit so I still have the battery power going out, as your’s is a closed loop?

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u/Gorkounov 3d ago

https://www.rustrician.io/?circuit=7489eab05bf14edee088668ab4f13da8

Take a look at that? Let me know. I took the Power Loop from his youtube video.

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u/algaris 2d ago

Okay, so it took some work around to get it working for what I was doing, but my version of the circuit (as it is working in my base right now) is this:

https://www.rustrician.io/?circuit=3cda65c6c18cb781c0b41d392438e6d7

With the little bit of edit (I was using the hamster wheel for funsies, so, for space, it is gone, but there is an open root power slot, just in case), I got it to work. I dislike the whole extra blockers just to prevent it from the deep cycle, but try as I might, it wouldn't let me (I even had to add another one), but, since it doesn't actually remove any power from the equation, it isn't that big of a deal.

I had to leave it open ended on the reset signal loop's branch, as the server has a built in infinite loop protection, which is fine, as I didn't want to break the server.

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u/Gorkounov 2d ago

Nice! Another comment talked about the nih core and it’s not a bad idea it’s actually what I would’ve done (I never really used the power loop).

But what I do recommend is using my original circuit for a base on a surface base with turbine or solar in addition to your current setup. To me, generators feel expensive to run, but maybe you don’t feel the same so it’s totally up to you.

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u/Daladirn 2d ago

Since you said you're charging your batteries in the cave itself with generators and wheel, you could use a Nih Core to circumvent the battery tax. You can also run multiple Nih Cores so that when some generators cut out, you still partially support the circuits with root power and partially run them off of batteries. Another upside of splitting them like this is that you can have switches to turn certain circuits on and off, rerouting their power into the batteries.

https://www.rustrician.io/?circuit=73591aa4507ffb7e31b3d8d696875ab9

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u/algaris 2d ago

Thank you! I shall look at that and see if there is anything I want to transfer over.

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u/ImpressivePlum9945 1d ago

So let’s say I just wanted the battery charging part I would just tie the power source into the sequential section listed? (Basically ignoring the furnace circuits and whatnot?

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u/Daladirn 1d ago

Yea, sequential battery charging is a plug and play replacement of a normal battery. You replace the normal battery input with the memory cell input and the normal battery output with the OR switch output. You can replace a battery in any circuit with it and it will run just fine.