Isy's Solar Alignment Script

This is a solar panel alignment script that uses rotors (and hinges) or gyroscopes to align solar panels for maximum efficiency. The key feature of this script is, that it can virtually align as many towers as you like with just one programmable block and is able to figure out by itself, if you use a T-shaped solar array, only one axis or a mix of the twos. Also the current efficiency and output is shown on LCD panels or optionally on corner LCD panels. The script is also smart enough to detect the night and stop the rotors until the sun comes up again. Optionally you can turn on and off your base lights based on the daytime via the built in location time calculation.

Current Version:

Version: 4.4.0 Date: 2023-08-06

Main features:

• script dynamically adjusts solar panels on rotors or with gyroscopes for best efficiency
• supports multiple towers at once
• supports hinges!!!
• supports T-shaped and U-shaped solar arrays (script figures this out by itself)
• supports modded panels (couldn't test all but should work with the most)
• supports pure oxygen farm towers
• supports weather condition dependent behavior
• supports groups for easier setup
• night mode (all rotors halt until sunlight is detected again)
• rotate the panels back to the sunrise position during the night
• output current operations and statistics to a LCD panel
• manage reactors as an emergency power source
• manage the lights (and spotlights) of your base with a location based time calculation
• start an external timer block at certain events like sunrise or a time

Basic Setup:

Rotor mode:

• create a group with all your solar related rotors (and hinges) named Solar Rotors
• (with a capital S and R and no "")
• set up a programmable block with the script, check code, remember & exit and done!
• NO TIMER required
• Note: Game has to be in experimental mode and ingame scripts have to enabled in world options!

Gyro mode:

• create a group of your cockpit or flight seat called Solar Reference
• (with a capital S and R and no "")
• set up a programmable block with the script, set "useGyroMode" to true in the config, check code, remember & exit and done!
• NO TIMER required
• Note: Game has to be in experimental mode and ingame scripts have to enabled in world options!

Full Guide:

Click the image or the link below to view the full guide: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1253023726

Tutorial Videos:

How to enable ingame scripts: https://youtu.be/NkhZ7BbYgvc Quick Setup Guide: https://youtu.be/7WeZwboC7mo Gyro Mode Update: https://youtu.be/8LsQYDGmBtM Full Guide: https://youtu.be/kzEZP4ozJyU (outdated!)

Example Tower:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=880176731

Note:

• in order for the script to work, every horizontal rotor needs at least one solar panel or one oxygen farm!
• be sure to always check your ownership! all used blocks should be owned by you (Owner: Me)!
• be aware that updating the script will delete your configuration so save it before updating
• although many towers and panels are cool, they are bad for performance, so consider using my "Dense Solarpanels" mod found here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2424526274

Known Bugs / Planned Features:

• 'Grids with unsafe values' warning: it is safe to ignore it. If you don't want the red warning box to show up, press SHIFT + F1 and deactivate 'Show warnings in game'
• time calculation doesn't work in space because there is no actual sunrise or sunset
• If the script stops working with any error, try disabling mods that change the programmable block like "Control Module - basically key binding for ships"

Support:

As Steam comments are not very practical in order to give proper support, this is exclusively done via Discord for this script. Please join my discord if you need any assistance: https://discord.gg/gY9aUUy

Copyright

© 2016 - 2025 Isy. All rights reserved. Redistribution or use in source, with or without modification, are not permitted.