Batteries not charging Probes?

[Superfluous J]

I'm assuming I'm doing something wrong, here, but I have no idea what that wrong thing is.

If I stick a probe core (Say, an OKTO2) to a battery (say, a Z500) and those are the only 2 parts in my "ship", why does the probe lose its charge? Shouldn't it get power from the battery?

If I stick the same probe core to a solar panel, the probe stays charged with no problem. If I stick a solar panel to a probe hooked to a battery, the solar panel will charge both. I'm confused.

[42undead2]

The batteries just store charge. They don't give it.

[Superfluous J]

The batteries just store charge. They don't give it.

Then what are they used for? If you can't use that charge, why would you put a battery on your ship?

[stupid_chris]

It happens sometimes under certain conditions. Honestly, I have trouble figuring it out too. I found the inline probe cores are more likely to do this.

[DocLangy]

Then what are they used for? If you can't use that charge, why would you put a battery on your ship?

You'll get into situations where you can't use solar panels. The dark side of a planet. Once you lose charge you'll lose control. Think of it as one feeding the other. Panels charge battery, battery powers probe core and any other parts.

Edit: I should add too that once you come around to the day side if you have your panels extended you can see them recharge everything if you look at the resource tab in the top right. Once charged they essentially feed everything directly from the panels.

Edited July 24, 2013 by DocLangy

[Kimberly]

The probe contains its own battery. This is what you see being drained. If the probe's own battery is empty, it can still function just fine using batteries on other parts of the ship. Don't think of the probe's own charge as the electricity it needs to function; think of it like any other battery.

[Superfluous J]

You'll get into situations where you can't use solar panels. The dark side of a planet. Once you lose charge you'll lose control. Think of it as one feeding the other. Panels charge battery, battery powers probe core and any other parts.

Right, but if the battery has a charge and the probe core isn't getting it, and thereby goes dead, the battery's not exactly doing it's job.

It happens sometimes under certain conditions. Honestly, I have trouble figuring it out too. I found the inline probe cores are more likely to do this.

This makes a sad sense. I guess that's part of Alpha Knowing it's possibly the core I chose gives me direction to test. Thanks!

[Superfluous J]

The probe contains its own battery. This is what you see being drained. If the probe's own battery is empty, it can still function just fine using batteries on other parts of the ship. Don't think of the probe's own charge as the electricity it needs to function; think of it like any other battery.

But I found this problem because my ships that had plenty of battery charge were uncontrollable when the probe core ran out of battery charge.

And a semi-unrelated question, how do I mark a post "answered"?

Edited July 24, 2013 by 5thHorseman

[42undead2]

I should've reworded it. It doesn't CREATE power. Sure, it gives extra storage of it, which could save the probe's life in the end, but no creation of power is happening.

[DocLangy]

It may be an inline problem then like Chris said

[Francesco]

somehow related to this:

if you only have a probe and a RTG, and you deactivate the probe's battery, you won't be able to contol it anymore: the RTG doesn't power directly the probe's chips/CPU, it just recharges its battery.

just wanted to add this little thing.

[magnemoe]

somehow related to this:

if you only have a probe and a RTG, and you deactivate the probe's battery, you won't be able to contol it anymore: the RTG doesn't power directly the probe's chips/CPU, it just recharges its battery.

just wanted to add this little thing.

Sounds like an bug as the probe has its own small battery so it would work anyway.

However if you have an battery, disable it and run out of power you will lose control and not be able to enable the battery and this makes some sense.

Batteries are very nice if you use power consuming stuff like kethane scanners.

Note that in 0.21 using the torque module will consume power, you would probably need batteries even with RTG as the orque module probably use far more energy than the RTG can deliver.

[draeath]

Your RTG(s) should only be there to make sure your probe doesn't die when it's on the wrong side of a celestial body

Also note that most (all?) engines (excepting ion!) generate power when fired. So, if you REALLY need that extra juice, give yourself a hair of throttle (but mind your positioning). Alternatively slap two small engines facing each other somewhere, so they cancel each other's thrust. This way you can consume fuel for power, if you need said power to get out of a sticky situation.