Electricity turns your base into an automated fortress: electric doors, turrets, alarms and traps. But a badly wired system shuts your defense down at midnight. The logic is simple: generate, store, prioritize.
Power generation
- Small Generator: always outputs a steady 40 rW; burns Low Grade Fuel and makes noise. Ideal for testing and constant power.
- Large Solar Panel: produces 0-20 rW depending on sun, zero at night. Free but intermittent; do not trust it alone for defense.
Batteries: cover night and gaps
Batteries store generation and kick in when the sun drops. All are 80% efficient (20% loss on charge). Capacity is in rWm (Rust watt-minutes).
| Battery | Capacity | Max output |
|---|---|---|
| Small Rechargeable | 150 rWm | 10 rW |
| Medium Rechargeable | 9,000 rWm | 50 rW |
| Large Rechargeable | 24,000 rWm | 100 rW |
The small battery is genuinely tiny (150 rWm); a serious turret + door layout needs Medium or Large.
Distribution components
- Root Combiner: merges two inputs into one output (e.g. combine several solar panels onto one line).
- Electrical Branch: passes power through but siphons a fixed amount to its branch (1 to 10,000,000). Use it to feed a sub-circuit a set amount without cutting the main line.
- Splitter: divides incoming power equally across three outputs.
- Blocker / block logic: when a signal reaches the "block" input, the output cuts — this is how priority is built (solar by day, auto-switch to battery when the sun drops).
How priority works
Each component draws the power it needs and forwards the rest. You build priority by ordering Branches (fixed draw), Splitters and Blockers: feed critical loads (turrets, doors) first and leave decorative lights last.
Test your circuit
- Add the consumption of every connected part and leave at least 20% headroom.
- Check door, turret and alarm behavior at night, after damage and after a server restart.
- Prototype your design in a circuit planner (e.g. Rustrician) before building; miswiring is expensive.
Electric defense only matters with a solid shell; read the base building guide first. When the system is ready, test it in the field on the Atak Rust servers.