Is it reasonably possible that I modify the solar panels and, I guess, capacitors, to place them on CVs? I may want to make a special version of capacitors that have more capacity and cost more to build, if that isn't too difficult. I don't want to change too many files, though. Where would I start? My CV is guzzling about 4000 fuel per hour when not on standby, and that will take way too much of my time to keep running. I keep making fusion cells because they double the efficiency of Promethium, but sooner or later, all ice will be mined off the snow planet in the starter system to make them. There is no auto mining of ice, is there? Fuel consumption will only go up once I add more weapons and more equipment ... I usually keep my CV parked at the sun anyway so that it hopefully doesn't get destroyed, and it makes no sense that CVs won't have solar panels.
You'll need to make a custom scenario and start a new save game using your custom scenario if you want to do this. However adding solar to CVs is buggy at best and if you're playing MP it will delete parts of your ship randomly. I recommend, especially if you're new to the game, just figure out your fuel efficiency. If you're still on the starter planet you should have only a basic CV meant to get you out of the starting system. Sounds like you built some monster CV that guzzles up fuel for no reason.
Thanks! Hm, ok, IIRC if I were to use a scenario, I'd have to start over? And when it doesn't work right, it's pointless. How did they do it with RE? Apparently they made it so that CVs can have solar panels. Don't they work right? There is no way around the fuel consumption. Sure you can turn off equipment to save on fuel, but then you can't use it. I've resorted to make a base I built at the sun into a refinery to do ore processing and to throw the crushed stone I get from mining into to turn it to iron and copper because it has plenty of solar power. One thing we need is fridges that run on their own fuel when solar power is out, like some other devices do. Nobody in their right mind would power a whole base or a CV just to run the fridge, but we have to do it.
In RE we added some devices that use a negative power in to reduce power consumption. We didn't add true solar panels to CV, instead they just look like solar panels but reduce power consumption by a flat amount. They don't need sunlight or even a line of sight to outside. And yes if you want to play using a custom scenario you must start a new save game.
Negative power usage? Like generators that use no fuel or anything and look like panels? That's magic! For now, I wouldn't want to start a new game. I've resorted to switching off everything that isn't solar powered since my Starlight Refinery has plenty solar power, and the plants in the grow pots on my CV died. So I salvaged the pots; the CV will only be used as a carrier for SVs and HVs and for battle if needed. The SVs will have to do most of the work. This isn't what I imagined for my CV; I thought I could live in it. It's such a relief when you don't have to worry about the energy!
