Smart Storage Bin and Memory Toggle

[Arcus2611]

So as of the latest patch, Smart Storage now actually consumes power. This actually makes it one of the worst power consumers as it is always on, so you get a power draw of 36kJ per day.

 

I quickly figured that by linking a clock sensor and a power shutoff to the same automation circuit you can leave the bin unpowered for most of the day and check it's state at the end of the day. If the bin is full, it'll output a signal to the shutoff allowing it to stay powered, and if it isn't the power shutoff will cut off the power as soon as the clock switches off.

 

But this solution obviously isn't ideal as it requires the bin to remain fully powered while full, so I started to wonder if there was a way to save the output from the bin and only occasionally check to see if there's a change in state. The obvious candidate for this is the memory toggle, but I'm not really sure how to go about setting up the automation circuit for this. Anyone have any ideas?

[Craigjw]

It would make sense to make the auto storage compactors 10w rather than the current massive 120w without it really doing anything.

 

I think it depends on the application regarding designing logic circuits for the it.  Setting the active signal on a latch isn't an issue, just pulse the bin every 200s (buffer->not->filter) or use a clock, however, under what conditions are you resetting the IT'S FULL signal from the latch.

It's really a shame they made it consume power, I don't want to micromanage building storage compactor logic circuits with the overhead of it consuming a constant 120w. 

At the end of the day, I'm going to try to get by without wasting my time designing logic circuits for using them.  My current game, I'm only using 1 for exactly this reason.

[Saturnus]

I'd be ok with it consuming power if it just worked properly. It (and the fridge) should have a hysteresis control like a smart battery.

[biopon]

I agree with Saturnus, hysteresis is a must on fridges and storage. I would also love rimworld-like range-of-effect controls... A man can dream, right?

As for the OP's question, how about a memory toggle whose reset input is connected to the pulse that's used to power the bin for a short amount of time, and the set input is just connected to the output of the bin. You might see a flicker to "off" on a memory toggle that should be on at the start of a check on a full bin, but I'm actually not sure about it.

[Xuhybrid]

Yeah 120 is ridiculous if all it's doing it outputting a logic signal.

You could probably achieve what you want with 2 memory toggles. The output of one memory toggle resets the other. I have never actually tried it so i'd have to go and play with it myself before i try to explain it.

[Arcus2611]

I figured how to do it using buffer gates after the tip given in this thread, which makes me want to kick myself for not thinking of it earlier. Put the power shutoff on a filter/not pulse toggle set to 200 seconds, and then have a buffer gate set to 200 seconds to save the signal.

 

It does mean that it'll take 200 seconds to register a state change which isn't ideal for some applications, but you can always set the gates to a shorter delay in that case.

 

It shouldn't really consume 60W constantly just to output a logic signal, but w/e.

[biopon]

It's actually just 60 watts now. I hope this isn't the final balance pass. I'd be cool with 10 watts.

 

@Arcus2611 here you go:

 

I had to hook up the bin to the reset leg due to input precedence on the memory toggle, so the output at the top is the inverse of what the bin would normally output when powered. Use a NOT gate if you want the original behavior.

The filter gate is to get rid of a 0.1 second flicker that you get with an over-capacity bin. If the flicker doesn't bother you, you can remove the filter. Otherwise it's set to 1 second.

The upper buffer gate controls the frequency of updating the memory toggle. I used 5 seconds, but anything works. The lower filter gate controls the amount of time the bin is powered (through the shutoff underneath it), this works fine at the lowest 0.1s setting.