Power Meter

The Power Meter is an advanced sensor that monitors your colony's power network, tracking metrics such as total supply, total demand, surplus energy, and battery charge percentage. It sends a signal based on how these measurements compare to configurable thresholds, enabling automated power management across your settlement. At 600 Science Points, the Power Meter is one of the more expensive sensors, reflecting its importance in managing the complex power demands of mid-to-late game colonies.

The Power Meter connects to the standard automation signal network, allowing it to control buildings, trigger logic gates, and activate output devices. A fundamental application is load shedding: connect the Power Meter (set to 'surplus less than 0') to non-essential powered buildings through a NOT Gate, automatically shutting them down when power demand exceeds supply. This prevents brownouts that would slow down critical operations like the Smelter or Bot Assembler. The battery charge monitoring feature is equally valuable, triggering backup power generation when stored energy drops below a threshold.

For colonies with complex power infrastructure (multiple Engines, Water Wheels, and dozens of powered buildings), the Power Meter is indispensable. Create a priority-based power management circuit by chaining Power Meters with AND Gates: essential buildings (water pumps, food production) stay powered always, mid-priority buildings (workshops, mills) shut down when surplus drops below 50 hp, and low-priority buildings (leisure, science) shut down at any deficit. This tiered approach ensures your colony's most critical functions continue operating even during power shortages. The Power Meter pairs well with the Chronometer for time-based power scheduling, and with the Weather Station for seasonal power management adjustments.