Codex Energy Capacitor Bank

Capacitor Bank

The Capacitor Bank is a small store with an enormous rate: every module holds a little energy but can take or give all of it in a single tick. It buffers short peaks, such as the ignition of a large plant or a machine that switches on and off. It is not made for keeping energy: it slowly discharges itself and heats up under constant full load.

How it works

1. Capacitor Modules connected to the controller form the bank; their number decides capacity and rate.
2. Energy comes in through Energy Input Hatches and leaves through Energy Output Ports.
3. Throughput heats the bank. Above a temperature the rate is throttled.
4. A redstone signal at the controller can hold the charge back or release it.

Building

Shown size: 3 wide, 2 high, 3 deep (adjustable: Width 1–8, Height 1–8, Depth 1–8).

One example of many: within the rules on this page, size and arrangement are up to you; the Build Projector shows the plan in every allowed size.

	Key	Block	Count
	A	Capacitor Module	12
	B	Energy Input Hatch (Tier 1)	1
	C	Energy Output Port	1
	0	Capacitor Bank Controller	1

Step by step

Each picture adds one layer, from the bottom up; the newest layer is bright. The controller wall faces you on the left.

Step 1: Layer 1

Parts in this step: Capacitor Module (A) ×6, Capacitor Bank Controller (0) ×1, Energy Input Hatch (Tier 1) (B) ×1, Energy Output Port (C) ×1

Step 2: Layer 2

Parts in this step: Capacitor Module (A) ×6

Rules

• No box shape: every Capacitor Module that touches the controller face to face, directly or through other modules, belongs to the bank. Any shape works.
• Limits: at most volt.maxCapacitorModules (default 128, allowed 1–1024) modules, none further than 16 blocks from the controller.
• Ports: Energy Input Hatches and Energy Output Ports that touch a module or the controller join the bank. Each works on the side facing away from the module it touches.
• Needed: at least one module.

Operation in depth

• Capacity = modules × 25,000 E.
• Rate = the same number per tick in each direction: a full bank can empty in one tick.
• Self-discharge: 0.0001 of the charge per tick (0.2 % per second). After a few minutes a full bank is noticeably emptier.
• Heat: every tick the bank heats up by 0.3 °C × (throughput ÷ rate)², where the throughput counts charging and discharging together. It cools by 0.001 of its excess over 20 °C per tick. Passive cooling carries about 40 % of the full rate continuously.
• Throttling: from 70 °C the rate falls, down to 0.2 of it at 100 °C. A hot bank never breaks; it only gets slower.
• The output ports share the rate between them; more ports do not push more.

Redstone

The > button switches what a redstone signal at the controller does:

Mode	Behaviour
Always gives energy	The signal does nothing.
Gives energy only with a signal	Holds the charge until a signal comes.
A signal blocks the output	Gives energy until a signal comes.

The bank keeps charging in every mode. The line "Output" says "Released" or "Holding the charge".

Tip

A charge for later In the mode "Gives energy only with a signal" the bank fills up and waits. A lever or a Sensor Module then releases the whole charge at once, for example to start a plant.

The screen

• Lines: Status, Redstone (the mode) and Output (released or holding).
• Bar: energy.
• Values: modules, rate (each way), input, output, temperature, rate available (the throttle), self-discharge.
• Button: > for the redstone mode.

Error messages

Message	What to do
Missing parts: Capacitor Module ×1	Place at least one module against the controller.
Too many modules (limit …) near …	Remove modules, or ask for a higher volt.maxCapacitorModules (default 128, allowed 1–1024).
Part of the structure is not loaded (…)	Load the chunks of the whole bank.

Breaking it

• While the bank is not formed, it moves nothing but keeps its charge.
• When it forms again with fewer modules, a charge above the new capacity is lost.
• Breaking the controller loses the charge.