Guide to Engineering
REASON: needs to be expanded and made more useful
Assigned to:Sirryan2002
So, you're an Engineer huh? Well here's the guide for you then. Engineering, the NanoTrasen way!
The Basics
Engineering is rather complex, but in itself teaches you many of the game's core mechanics. Even a new player, who can pick up and empty a toolbox is able to become a good engineer. If you're a completely new player however, you should first glance at the starter guide. Use Maintenance for some helpful info on cable/pipe/disposal placement.
Before we start
The Engine, Solars and Power
Generating Power
The primary purpose of engineering is to maintain the station's power. This can be done in multiple ways, the easiest of which is either an engine (DONT TRY TO SET IT UP IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING) or Solars. The station can run on Solar panels only, but it is advised to secure even more power. An Engine can be either the Tesla Engine or the Singularity Engine, out of which the Tesla is the much safer option. An engine, of either type, is extremely dangerous, as a potential release, either by intention or accident, will result in widespread station destruction, as such they should be kept safe.
Alternatively, the station can run on solars only, but it is then advised you hotwire the solars, so the station is always getting as much power as it can. By choosing a non-Engine approach, expect to be yelled at. No matter what you choose, the Solars should be wired to secure Emergency power. here
Additional power sources are the Atmos Turbine, which does belong to Atmospherics, but if power is needed it is needed. Gas Turbine
One can also construct additional power sources, like a Thermoelectric Generator, thought this will take time to setup.
And lastly, PACMANS. One can be found by the engine, these are basicly small mobile generators that run on plasma sheets. To use one, wire a node under it, and wrench it. Then use its menu to turn it on, on the output you desire. The station can run on solely PACMANs, if you upgrade and/or build more of them.
Wiring
If a part of the station loses power it is likely wires have been cut somewhere. To search for cut wires under floors you will need a T-Ray Scanner. To cut wires, use the wirecutters and to place new ones click on the floor where you'd like them to be placed. The wire will be placed on the targeted tile from the tile you're standing on. You can also place wires on the tile you're currently on by clicking the tile. the wire will be placed in the direction you're currently facing. To place smooth wires, click on the red dot (end point) of an existing wire with more wire in your hand.
Wiring intersections demand special mention. Making an intersection requires all the wire pieces to be end-points. If you make a smooth wire going south to north and place a half-wire going east, they will not be connected. To connect them you have to remove the smooth wire and replace it with two half-wires. Once all of them are placed, if you right click the tile you should see three wire pieces, all of which meet in the center. In case of a knot, just cut the wire, and then hit the knot.
Power monitoring and Distribution
Power grids are a thing, created in a network of cables. If you create a small network connected to the turbine only for example, that will be its own grid. At start the engine will have its own grid, with the engine being its power source. (If Tesla the Coils, if Singulo the Rad collectors). The power source will if connected make its output available on the engine grid. The Power monitoring computer will show production and use on the net its connected to, and the APCs that are on its grid. If a SMES is connected both under and at its terminal to a grid, its a battery on that grid, the SMES left of the engine is one example of this, they can be useful if the power output is unstable, or as a backup. SMES can also be used as "dams" or floodvalves toother grids, and as such regulate power on said other grids. The SMES to the right of the engine are an example of this. They then need to have the node under them be from its input grid and the terminal node the output grid.
An APC or Area Power Controller is located in every room. It is usually locked, but you can unlock it by swiping your ID on it. It contains a power cell. You can shut off a room's power or disable or enable lighting, equipment or atmospheric systems with it. Every room can have only one APC. The guide to their construction and deconstruction can be found in the Construction. APC's can also be hacked. It's also a good idea to know how to do that. APCs can be turned off, have certain things turned off, or have the power cell changed in the case of poweroutages or lack of power.
Station Structural Integrity
An educated word which basically means wall repairs.
Walls
Walls come in two forms: Regular and reinforced. Building a regular wall is a two step process: constructing girders and adding plating. To construct a girder have a stack of two or more sheets of metal on you (right click the metal and examine it to see how many sheets are in the stack). Left click the metal for a construction window to appear. Choose "Construct wall girders" from the list and wait a few seconds while they're built. Once they're built, click on the girders with another stack of two or more metal to add the plating.
Note that only fully built walls will prevent air from escaping freely through them. Reinforced walls share the first step: the building of the girders. After this, you'll need plasteel, which can be gained from the mining department or from partially destroyed reinforced walls. Use one of them on the girders to create reinforced girders and the other on the reinforced girders to finalize them. Reinforced walls are much stronger than regular walls and take much longer to get through using regular tools.
For more on construction see the guide to construction.
Pretty glass
Notice how most of the glass around the station is built as a double pane, which surrounds a grille. Making this by hand can be a bit tricky at first, but is simple once you get the hang of it. To build such a wall, you'll need 4 sheets of glass and 3 sheets of metal, alternatively you can have 6 sets of rods. You'll also need a screwdriver and crowbar, though having wirecutters and a welder with you is a good idea, as you'll likely get it wrong the first time and will need those to dismantle the grille.
First you have to prepare your materials. Use the metal on itself and create 6 sets of rods (2 are made each time). Now pick the rods up (you can stack them, but don't click too quickly or the game might think you wanted to build a grille). After this, use 4 of the rods on 4 sheets of glass to create 4 sheets of reinforced glass. Now pick up all your tools (put them on your utility belt if you have one or in your backpack) and pick up the remaining two rods in one hand and the 4 sheets of reinforced glass in your other (remember, you can stack glass too). Now stand where you'd like the glass to be. Use the rods on themselves and this will create a grille. DO NOT MOVE! Now use the glass on itself 4 times and create a single paned glass every time. Right click on the glass to rotate it until you have 3 of the 4 sides covered. The remaining side is your escape route. use the combination of screwdriver - crowbar - screwdriver on each of the 3 panes which are already in place to secure them. Now move out of the grille and rotate the last window so it covers the last side. Fasten that with the same screwdriver - crowbar - screwdriver combination. Congratulations. You've just made a proper window. You're already better at construction than most.
For more on construction see the guide to construction.
Robots, Artificial Intelligence and Computers
As an engineer, it is required of you to understand how most computers are operated, how they work, how they're created, dismantled and repaired. You're also the best equipped station employee to prevent the AI from taking a life of it's own.
Computers
Computers are everywhere on SS13. Engineering has a power monitoring computer, several solar computers and a general alerts computer. Almost everything you can control is done through a computer. Making them is described in the guide to construction, as is their dissasembly (for those which can be deconstructed). To learn how to operate different computer you'll need to start using them and find out how they work while doing so. There are too many to explain them all here.
Getting Crew out of Danger
It's your job to save lives when they cry out for help.
Firefighting
Engineers get access to maintenance hallways, which contain several firesuits and extinguishers. If a fire breaks out somewhere, put it out. Firesuits allow you to walk in almost any fire. Extinguishers have a limited capacity. Refill them with water tanks, which can be found all around the station.
Physical rescue
If someone cries that he can't get out of somewhere and no one can get him out, then it's your job to do so. Hacking airlocks, deconstructing walls, basically whatever it takes to get to them. I don't need to point out that you should never put others or yourself at risk in doing so!