Energy Collector

Energy Collector
File:Energy Collector.gif
Name	Energy Collector
Type	EE Factory Blocks
Luminance	7, 11, 15
Tool	File:Grid Iron Pickaxe.png
Stackable	Yes, 64
Data Value	126
EMC Value	82953, 232969, 710665
Mod Included	Equivalent Exchange

The Energy Collector is an EE Factory Block that converts any light source into EMC.

Creating EMC

Placing EE2/Vanilla fuel items in the Energy Collector's inventory slot; it will convert the fuel into new fuels of progressively higher EMC value. The sequence for upgrades are: Charcoal, Redstone, Coal, Gunpowder, Glowstone Dust, Alchemical Coal, Blaze Powder, Glowstone, Mobius Fuel, Aeternalis Fuel. Over time, a cheap fuel such as redstone (EMC value: 64) can be transmuted automatically into an expensive/high EMC value fuel like Aeternalis Fuel (EMC value: 8192).

This creates EMC based on light sources. If left idle, it will still generate EMC as it produces light itself.

Excess EMC Usage

If The Energy Collector is generating EMC but is not converting any fuels (charcoal, mobius fuel etc.), the EMC being generated will travel over to an adjacently placed EE2 block such as an Energy Condenser or Antimatter Relay. Furthermore, if an Energy Collector is placed next to an Antimatter Relay which is in turn connected to an Energy Condenser, the EMC from the Energy Collector will travel through the Antimatter Relay to the Energy Condenser even though the Collector and Condenser do not come into contact. A device made with several Energy Collectors together with Antimatter Relays around a central Energy Condenser is commonly referred to as an "EMC flower", or "Power Flower". 

Energy Collectors not producing Fuel adjacent to a Dark Matter Furnace or Red Matter Furnace will power those as well.

Recipe

Energy Collectors come in three Tiers. Each upgrade from the previous tier allows for additional EMC generation a second, light levels (they can act as a light source), and storage space.

Mark One

Mark Two

Mark Three

EMC Generation

The amount of EMC produced is static based on the Tier level of the Energy Collector. Energy Collectors also produce Light level based on tier.

Tier	EMC/s	Light Level
Mk1	4	7
Mk2	12	11
Mk3	40	15

(EMC/s tested at light level 15)

An easy way to generate EMC is to place a Glowstone Block above the Energy Collector.  Glowstone Blocks have light levels of 15 and also generate light at nightime, making the Glowstone method more efficient than leaving the Energy Collector outside.

The light level above the Energy Collector determines the exact EMC gained (see internal details below). The EMC generated is used to progress fuels to the next step in the progression, all the EMC generated is put into the Input fuel moving the progression forward. If an item is taken out mid-conversion, the excess EMC generated is stored back in the collector (and displayed as passive EMC) and is instantly used on the progression of the next placed input item, possibly very quickly upgrading several lower EMC valued materials. Thus, generated EMC is conserved.

Break Even Point

Break Even in 'real-life' terms is the point where the energy output [of a power source] is equal to the energy input; energy is wasted if 'Break Even' point is not reached or passed. From an EMC only standpoint, Energy Collectors are a very long-term investment. In order to equal the cost of just the Energy Collector (not counting the Relays or Energy Condenser) it takes roughly 5 hours of non-stop energy generation at level 15 light to recover the cost of the materials used to create one. Below is a chart of each tier and how many Real Time hours it must be lit and active until the Energy Collector has "paid for itself".

Tier	EMC/s	Hours
File:Grid Antimatter Relay Mk1.png   Mk1	4	5.76
File:Grid Antimatter Relay Mk2.png   Mk2	12	5.40
File:Grid Antimatter Relay Mk3.png   Mk3	40	4.94

(EMC/s tested at light level 15)

Internal details

The EMC/second produced is based on the level of light shining on the top of the Energy Collector. The light scale is 1 to 15, 1 being complete darkness and 15 being sunlight or equivalent. Lower light reduces EMC production.

For the purpose of the following example, we ignore the light the Collector emits.

A single Energy Collector Mk1 is sitting in a field, open to the sky. During the day the light scale is 15 so 15/15 is 1 then that is multiplied by the output. We leave our collector under the Night sky (light scale 5); now our Energy Collector is at ~33% efficiency (5/15) giving us 1 EMC/second (4*0.33 rounded down). In complete darkness our Energy Collector is producing 1EMC/second (our light scale stops at 1).

Trivia

• Energy Collectors (originally noted by Rar349) cannot be pushed with a Sticky Piston or a Piston.
• To place a block above the Energy Collector (for example, Glowstone), one can achieve this with ease by holding down shift and placing the block. It will not open up the Energy Collector GUI. This feature is true on all EE blocks (sparing the DM pedestal and Transmutation Tablet)
• Energy Collectors are used in the Power Flower structure.
• Energy Collectors can be used to charge Klein Stars.
• Mark 3 Energy Collectors do not need a Glowstone block above them to be fully efficient.
• If a solid, non-luminecent block is on top of a collector it will produce a very, very small amount of EMC, even on a Mark 3 Collector.

Video Tutorial

File:Tekkit Tutorial How to generate LOADS of EMC for free-0