Suggestion: Energy Meter

    I was messing around with a few of my friends on an SMP server, and we weren't quite satisfied with the 1IC per 4000 EU power rate for the Energy-O-Mats. I preferably use them just for the redstone output since from server to server, the economy and inflation rates vary greatly.


    We wanted to sell power to "customers" and charge them based on their energy usage vs. OUR rates. Thats when I got the idea "Hey, there should be a machine that logs how much EU passes through it", then we can charge these energy hogging towns the proper payment.


    So I present to you, my idea proposal of the "Energy Meter"!


    Description: A machine that can take inputs from all 5 sides, where the output being the marked face (like other machines). This output face can be changed using the wrench. Using the wrench on the output face will dismount the machine. As EU passes through the machine, it logs both the total EU that passes through, and the instantaneous EU rate (in ticks or seconds) of the combined inputs at that time. In the gui, you can also clear the data, although only the owner of the block would be able to do this. (I have no idea if that is possible, maybe it works the same way as personal chests. However in this case the owner would get a gui with the clear button, while other people don't have the button). It would act as the old relays did, where all power is brought in from the inputs, combined, and thrown out the output face. Handles LV? MV? (not sure if so..)


    Crude GUI Idea (Just to give an idea of what the gui would look like, although this is very crude)



    Crude Texture (mock up of what it might look like?)



    Usage: Probably only used for multiplayer, where people could see how much energy someone is sucking up and charge them for it. Or just as a nice way of seeing how much energy your nuclear reactor has put out in your singleplayer world. As for multiplayer, this lets people charge customers by their rate where they could just check the meter every so often and charge for how much was used. Also a nice way to see if your roommate is hiding a Mass Fabricator in your basement ;)


    Another thing to think about is if you own a town in SMP, you slap one of these on every home (like in real life) and you base your taxes off energy use!



    This is just a basic idea, feel free to comment and improve on the idea, maybe give a possible crafting recipe idea. Nothing here is absolute, so I'm sure things are subject to change.

    As I understand it (no IC-SMP experience, just going from the wiki) you can set up an EOM to charge up to an unlimited amount for that 4k EU


    That said, I like your suggestion.


    In essence, an energy storage block (5 inputs, 1 output, directional) without any energy storage where it also keeps track of how much EU passed through it.
    Such a block would also have applications for SSP if you want to determine how much a particular workshop or set of machines is using, or which bank of generators is supplying most of it.


    :thumbup:


    Edit: Didn't read the entire post, you already said my last sentence there.

    this is now officially a kreek supported suggested :thumbup:


    i generally only play single player, but id still like to see the total power draw of anything i might make


    and i like your ideas for multiplayer servers, this would basicly be how they do it in RL

    I'm going to be making a server once smp comes out, and I would love to have something like this, considering I'm the designated power grid manager (self-apointed of course :P)

    I5 2500K | 4GB Cosair Vengence | Radeon 6850 | Rosewill 600w PSU | GigaByte Z68MA | CM Elite 311 | Dell 19" 720p (upgrading soon!)| Hitachi 500 GB 7200 HDD | LG 24X |Windows 7 (Genuine!)
    Alblaka in a Lightning Rod suggestion thread...[/size]

    I already planned on adding at least a simple redstone cutoff switch into my power regulator mod, so I'm gonna put a power meter in it too. Gonna change the name to PowerSystems, and if anyone else has any ideas for more power control/monitoring systems, feel free to post them (note: I am planning on also including selective disablement in the config, so you could enable power meters alone, that way server admins have a choice. Still only 1 block ID so far, gonna try to cram as many as I can into that ID.)

    "I already planned on adding at least a simple redstone cutoff switch into my power regulator mod, so I'm gonna put a power meter in it too. Gonna change the name to PowerSystems, and if anyone else has any ideas for more power control/monitoring systems, feel free to post them (note: I am planning on also including selective disablement in the config, so you could enable power meters alone, that way server admins have a choice. Still only 1 block ID so far, gonna try to cram as many as I can into that ID.)[/"


    Sounds great! Love your add-on by the way! Its very useful.

    I5 2500K | 4GB Cosair Vengence | Radeon 6850 | Rosewill 600w PSU | GigaByte Z68MA | CM Elite 311 | Dell 19" 720p (upgrading soon!)| Hitachi 500 GB 7200 HDD | LG 24X |Windows 7 (Genuine!)
    Alblaka in a Lightning Rod suggestion thread...[/size]

    Haha, this idea is a very general one, as meters can be used for many different things. I also wanted to state that like the old Energy-O-Mat, it would produce a Redstone output as long as energy is passing through. (As someone mentioned). Thanks for all of your support.


    Having this in an addon would be great! I'd be elated if it was even put in IC2! HAYO! 8o