How do solar panels work?

[AliVaja]

I have this problem where when I build solar panels they work at full capacity. Solar panels are behind the bunker and normal tile layer, but still work. When I load game, however, they all stop working and I need to rebuild them for solar panels to work again. 

So, do solar panels need direct sun light to work? Because the only requirement that game gives for them is that they need to be in space. It does not say anything about direct sun light. When solar panels don't work, they don't give any reason for not working either!

[Saturnus]

It's in the description. Clearly states "converts Sunlight into electrical power".

14 minutes ago, AliVaja said:

When solar panels don't work, they don't give any reason for not working either!

Nor does a coal generator when it's out of coal for instance.

[InternetGuy]

I haven't played with solar panels at all. Have you tried opening the bunker doors to give the solar panels a little update. I'm thinking solar panels working behind bunker doors is a bug.

[AliVaja]

Coal generator does give you warning. When you click it, in STATUS-box it says ''insufficient resources - coal''. Solar panels don't give any information at all!

And fair enough, it is given that solar panel requires actual sunlight to work, but it doesn't explain why they work when I build them under two separate tile layers. Also, I believe  many shine bugs can power up solar panel and solar panel doesn't even have to be exposed to space. So, if true, this contradicts both requirements for solar panels.

[ToiDiaeRaRIsuOy]

19 minutes ago, AliVaja said:

Coal generator does give you warning. When you click it, in STATUS-box it says ''insufficient resources - coal''. Solar panels don't give any information at all!

And fair enough, it is given that solar panel requires actual sunlight to work, but it doesn't explain why they work when I build them under two separate tile layers. Also, I believe  many shine bugs can power up solar panel and solar panel doesn't even have to be exposed to space. So, if true, this contradicts both requirements for solar panels.

What are those tiles? normal tiles? transparent tiles? airflow tiles? mesh tiles?

Your solar panel should only work if there is light, of any source, on the panels. Even a lamp can power solar panels for a bit (although the lamp consumes more than you can generate with the solar panel). There is a button in the overlay button, to the left of the liquid overlay button, which will show you where there is light.

If your solar panel work despite being underneath normal tiles, then we are talking about a bug obviously.

 

Post a picture of your set up. I think that can explain a lot.

[Sasza22]

Ok guys some of you are confused by the solar panel animation. When you build the panel (doesn`t matter if it`s exposed to light or not) it will do a "work" animation. After you load a save game it will no longer do that animation. It`s probably a bug.

Now that has nothing to do with how much power it produces. NOTHING. The pannel will still produce power when exposed to light. The middle column between the pannels shows how much power it produces, this one works fine. So don`t look if the panel is moving and instead watch if your batteries are getting charged.

If you want the animation back disabling/eanbling works as well.

It is possible to power the panel with shinebugs but you`ll need around 20-30 in one spot and not being overcrowded so it needs to be a huge room or use an exploit. It works but there is a sideeffect making it impossible to see what`s in the room due to too much light effects stacked on top of each other.