Cables & Transformers
For a conceptual overview of how cables fit into the energy system, see the Energy & Power primer.
Cables
Cables transport energy between machines and generators. Each type of cable has a maximum transfer rate (E/t) and a corresponding tier.
Bare vs Insulated
Some cables come in two variants: bare and insulated.
- Bare Cables: Can shock you if touched, and lose energy when placed in the rain.
- Insulated Cables: Safe to touch and do not lose energy in the rain.
Cable Stats
| Cable | Insulated? | Transfer Rate (E/t) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tin | No | 32 | Low |
| Copper | No | 128 | Medium |
| Insulated Copper | Yes | 128 | Medium |
| Gold | No | 512 | High |
| Insulated Gold | Yes | 512 | High |
| HV | No | 2,048 | Extreme |
| Insulated HV | Yes | 2,048 | Extreme |
| Glassfiber | Yes | 8,192 | Insane |
| Superconductor | Yes | Infinite | Infinite |
Crafting Insulated Cable
Insulated cables require Rubber. The basic rubber chain involves:
- Finding a Rubber Tree and using a Treetap to harvest Sap.
- Processing the Sap in an Extractor to get Rubber.
- Combining Rubber with bare cable.
(See the Rubber Tree and Treetap pages for more info).
Transformers
To connect machines of different tiers safely (e.g. hooking a Low Voltage machine up to a Medium Voltage generator), you must use a Transformer.
Transformers can step down voltage (take high voltage in and send low voltage out) or step up voltage (take low voltage in and send high voltage out). By default, they step down.