Can Fuel Priority/Cross Feed Replace Fuel Lines?

[Ratwerke_Actual]

Basically the title.

I set the priority, enable cross feed, and tanks drain as they should. But when outer tanks show empty, the booster engines still draw fuel from from inner tanks.

I had hopes that priority would allow asparagus/onion staging without having to open info boxes to monitor fuel level for time of staging.

1.6.1 Stock.

[Aegolius13]

Your assessment is correct.  Crossfeed is bidirectional, so outer engines will continue to draw from inner tanks until you take action. To get the automatic shutoff but still allow for crossfeed, you need to use fuel lines (or possibly a mod).

See also:

 

 

[Ratwerke_Actual]

@Aegolius13

Thanks for your prompt and informative response.

My suspicions that a mod would be required to work around this issue were correct.

Basically just wanted a few less parts, weight and drag.

[Starhawk]

I have found that the dV readout for a stage drops to zero properly as the tanks for that stage drain.

If you watch the number on the staging tab and stage when it reaches zero you should be golden.

It worked for me, at least.

Happy landings!

[MaverickSawyer]

Yeah, you either need fuel lines or a mod to manage the staging.

Personally, I'd use Smart Parts, as there's a whole range of useful sensors that can trigger staging and/or action groups based on altitude, speed, fuel status, time, proximity, etc.

[Ratwerke_Actual]

On Friday, February 22, 2019 at 10:16 AM, Starhawk said:

I have found that the dV readout for a stage drops to zero properly as the tanks for that stage drain.

If you watch the number on the staging tab and stage when it reaches zero you should be golden.

It worked for me, at least.

Happy landings!

Sometimes the obvious escapes me. Thank you.

Not used to the stock Δv tab being right in my face.