Skip to main content
Version: 1.20.1

Energy & Power

Tech Reborn's energy system is measured in E (Energy) and flows at a rate of E/t (Energy per tick). Power moves through a chain: generators → cables → storage → machines. Understanding this chain — and the tier rules governing each component — is the key to building a stable base.

How It Works​

Generators​

Generators produce energy each game tick and push it into adjacent cables or machines. Each has a fixed output rate determined by its tier. The

Solid Fuel Generator
Solid Fuel Generator is the entry-level option, burning Coal and Charcoal at 32 E/t. Higher-tier generators like the
Thermal Generator
Thermal Generator (128 E/t) or
Plasma Generator
Plasma Generator (2,048 E/t) require more infrastructure but produce orders of magnitude more power.

Cables​

Cables carry energy between components. Each cable type has a hard transfer cap — send more E/t than its rated limit and the cable vaporizes. Tin Cable handles up to 32 E/t; Copper up to 128 E/t; Gold up to 512 E/t. See Cables & Transformers for the full list.

Storage​

Storage units (

LV Storage Unit
LV Storage Unit,
MV Storage Unit
MV Storage Unit, etc.) buffer energy so machines don't stall during brief generator shortfalls. They accept power from multiple input sides and emit from a configurable output face. Place one between your generators and machine cluster as a buffer to stabilize the network.

Machines​

Machines draw energy at a fixed rate while processing a recipe. If supply drops below that rate the machine stalls mid-recipe. Overclocker upgrades increase draw rate but finish recipes faster — total energy per recipe stays roughly constant.

Energy Tiers​

Quick reference — see Power Tiers for the authoritative table.

TierNameMax I/O (E/t)Min. CableExamples
0Micro8Tin—
1Low (LV)32TinSolid Fuel Generator, Grinder
2Medium (MV)128CopperThermal Generator, Assembling Machine
3High (HV)512GoldHigh Voltage SU
4Extreme (EV)2,048HV CablePlasma Generator
5Insane (IV)8,192GlassfiberLapotronic SU, Interdimensional SU

Machines and cables rated for a lower tier will explode or burn out if fed more E/t than they support. To safely connect components of different tiers, use a Transformer to step voltage down.

Cable Sizing Rule of Thumb​

  • Short local runs (generator directly into 1–2 machines): use the cable that matches your tier —
    Tin Cable
    Tin Cable     for LV,
    Copper Cable
    Copper Cable     for MV.
  • Long distribution runs: Gold or HV Cable. Prefer insulated variants (
    Insulated Gold Cable
    Insulated Gold Cable    ,
    Insulated HV Cable
    Insulated HV Cable    ) to prevent shock damage on contact and rain loss.
  • Mid-run buffers: Place a storage unit every 10–15 blocks to act as a buffer node. Energy does not attenuate per block, but a buffer absorbs transient overload spikes and keeps the downstream network stable.

See Cables for per-type stats.

Machine GUI Overview​

Every Tech Reborn machine shares a common GUI layout:

  • Input slots (left): items or fluids consumed per recipe
  • Progress bar (center): advances while a recipe runs
  • Output slots (right): completed items
  • Power bar (right edge): current buffer fill level and draw rate
  • Battery slot: charges a portable battery item passively while the machine runs
  • Upgrade slots: 4 slots for Overclocker, Energy Storage, or other upgrade items

Two additional tabs appear in most machines:

I/O Config tab — Set each face to input, output, or disabled. Auto-pull and auto-push can be toggled per face independently.

Redstone tab — Choose the machine's redstone behavior: run on I/O signal (full inventory = stop), run continuously regardless, or trigger only on a crafting pulse.

Common Pitfalls​

  • Generator not pushing power — Check the output face of your generator or storage unit. It must point toward the cable or machine it feeds. Rotate with a Wrench.
  • Cables burning out — You are sending more E/t than the cable tier supports. Upgrade to the next cable type or add a step-down Transformer on the receiving end.
  • Machine running slowly — Input supply rate is below what the machine draws per tick. Add more generators, upgrade to a higher-tier storage unit, or add Overclocker upgrades to finish recipes faster with the same supply.
  • Machine exploding — Receiving voltage above its rated tier. Insert a Transformer between the supply and the machine to step down to the correct tier.

See Also​