⚡ Energy Devices Documentation

Overview

The energy system in Last State allows players to harness renewable and non-renewable power sources to operate electrical devices that improve quality of life, automate tasks, and provide survival advantages. This documentation covers all energy devices, their mechanics, crafting recipes, usage, and known issues.

Energy System Fundamentals

How It Works

The electricity system operates on a simple production vs. consumption model:

Energy Flow Logic

Each Game Hour:

1. Calculate total production from all placed devices
2. Calculate total consumption from inventory devices
3. Net = Production - Consumption
4. If Net >= 0: Charge batteries (up to capacity)
5. If Net < 0: Drain batteries to cover deficit
6. If batteries empty: Devices lose power (blackout)

Time of Day Effects

Placement Rules

Building Requirement: Most energy devices (Solar Panels, Generators, Consumers, Storage) can ONLY be placed inside a constructed House or Greenhouse.

Power Production Devices

Salvaged Solar Panel

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placement: Crafted at current tile position (world map location)
• Stacking: Up to 5 solar panels can be placed on a single tile
• Day/Night Cycle: Only produces power during daytime hours
• Best Use Case: Primary power source for base locations; combine multiple panels for consistent daytime charging

Usage Notes

Place Salvaged Solar Panels in open areas (grassland, meadow) for thematic consistency. Combine with Industrial Battery Banks to store energy for nighttime use.

Scrap Wind Turbine

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placement: Crafted at current tile position
• 24/7 Production: Unlike solar panels, wind turbines produce power day and night
• Lower Output: 3W per turbine is relatively low, requiring multiple units

Usage Notes

Scrap Wind turbines are ideal as supplementary power sources. Their constant output helps maintain baseline power during night hours when solar panels are inactive.

Waterwheel Generator

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• River Requirement: Can ONLY be placed on river tiles
• Constant Output: Produces 10W regardless of time of day
• Best Single Producer: Highest per-unit output among renewable sources

Usage Notes

Unlike other power devices, Waterwheels Generators require specific terrain. Scout for river tiles before planning your power infrastructure.

Fuel Generator

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Automatic Operation: Produces power 24/7 as long as the grid is active
• No Fuel: Modified to run on efficient perpetual motion (or similar game logic), requiring no gasoline
• Consistent Output: 25W constant generation

Fuel Generators are reliable baseline power sources, producing more than solar/wind but less than their previous fuel-guzzling iteration. Great for stable base power.

Energy Storage

Industrial Battery Bank

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placement Structure: Industrial Battery Tanks are placed on the map (not inventory items)
• Cumulative Capacity: Multiple Industrial Battery Tanks stack their capacity
• Example: 5 Industrial Battery Tanks = 2,500 Wh total storage

Storage Math

Without Industrial Battery Tanks, excess power production is wasted. Always craft Industrial Battery Tanks early in your power infrastructure to store surplus energy.

Consumer Devices

Consumer devices are placed structures (except Headlamp). They are installed at a specific tile location and consume power from the grid. Each device has a limit of 1 per tile.

Light Bulb

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placed Structure: Installed at current tile location
• Basic Lighting: Provides illumination for the tile
• Effect: Canceling night penalty for crafting)

Headlamp

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Portable Light Source: Can be used without power grid
• Charging: When grid is active and item is in inventory, it charges (restoring uses)

Salvaged Refrigerator

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placed Structure: Installed at current tile location
• Local Food Preservation: Prevents food decay for inventory items while player is on the same tile
• Effect Range: Same tile only - must stand at the fridge location

Electric Heater

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placed Structure: Installed at current tile location
• Local Warmth: Provides warmth bonus only when player is on the same tile

Place a heater at your main base location where you sleep and spend time. The warmth effect only applies when you're standing on that tile.

Grow Light Rig

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placed Structure: Installed at current tile location
• Local Crop Boost: Doubles crop growth speed for crops on the same tile
• Greenhouse Synergy: Best used in tiles with greenhouses for maximum effect

Irrigation Sprinklers

Crafting Recipe

Mechanics

• Placed Structure: Installed at current tile location
• Local Auto-Watering: Waters crops on the same tile every hour when powered
• Water Level: Increases crop water level by 1 per hour (max 3)
• Effect Range: Same tile only - each farm tile needs its own sprinkler

Place Irrigation Sprinklers on each tile where you have farm plots. Combined with Grow Light Rigs on the same tile, your crops will thrive!

Grid Management

Power Panel Access

Access the power management interface via:

• Menu -> Management -> Power

Grid Controls

Status Indicators

Grid Toggle Use Cases

• Conservation: Turn off grid at night if you have limited storage
• Emergency: Disable non-essential consumption during power shortage
• Reset: Toggle to refresh power calculations

Quick Reference Tables

Power Production Summary

Power Consumption Summary

Material Requirements Summary

Optimal Power Setups

Minimal Base (Low Power)

• Goal: Power basic lighting
• Setup: 1 Solar Panel + 1 Power Cell
• Production: 15W day / 0W night
• Storage: 500 Wh
• Runs: Light Bulb (2W) for 250 hours at night

Standard Base (Medium Power)

• Goal: Power fridge + lighting
• Setup: 2 Solar Panels + 2 Wind Turbines + 2 Power Cells
• Production: 36W day / 6W night
• Storage: 1,000 Wh
• Runs: Fridge (10W) + Light Bulb (2W) = 12W

Advanced Base (High Power)

• Goal: Full automation + heater
• Setup: 2 Solar Panels + 2 Waterwheels (river) + 2 Power Cells
• Production: 50W day / 20W night
• Storage: 1,000 Wh
• Runs: Heater (20W) + Fridge (10W) + Grow Lights (10W) + Sprinklers (5W) = 45W

Emergency Backup

• Goal: Supplement during shortages
• Setup: Generator + Gasoline storage
• Production: 50W (when fueled)
• Note: Keep gasoline in reserve for emergencies