Power before components
Electricity needs a source, a path, and a load. Build the source first, then add components one at a time.
Generators and sources
Different sources suit different bases. Pick the one that matches your uptime and your noise tolerance.
- Wind turbine — steady power, needs height
- Solar panel — quiet, only works in daylight
- Large battery — stores power for the night cycle
Wire the trunk first
Run one main line from the source, then branch off it. A tidy trunk makes faults easy to find later.
Watch the draw
Every component draws power. If total draw exceeds supply, the circuit browns out and nothing works.
Switches and timers
Switches give manual control, and timers automate it. A timer on lights or doors saves you constant input.
Logic components
Logic parts let a circuit react. Use them for doors that open for you and lights that trigger on movement.
Traps and defenses
Traps run on power and add pain for raiders. Wire them to a sensor so they fire when someone enters.
Protect the source
A raid that kills your generator kills everything downstream. Bury or armor the source and the main line.
Test as you build
Power each branch and confirm it works before adding the next. Debugging one branch is fast; debugging ten is not.
Build the grid in pieces
Run a small solar or wind setup first, then branch to one device at a time and confirm it lights before extending. A battery smooths night gaps. Wiring ten things at once hides the one broken connection; piece-by-piece keeps the base powered.