Power System
This page covers how power moves and is stored — adjacency, transfer modes, cables, and batteries. For the generators themselves (types, recipes, and energy output), see the Generators page.
UC machines require power from generators. Power transfers by adjacency — a generator feeds any
machine touching it — at every tier. Energy cables (utilitycraft:energy_cable, an optional
block) extend a generator's reach to machines that aren't directly adjacent; they're never required,
at any tier.
Adjacency Rules
Generators tag all 6 cardinal faces (N/S/E/W/up/down) on placement. Any machine touching any of those faces receives power. A generator can sit above, below, or beside a machine.
Transfer Modes
Use a wrench (utilitycraft:wrench) on a generator to open its transfer-mode dropdown — a
plain right-click just opens the generator's container. Modes:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Nearest (default) | Sends power to closest connected machine first |
| Farthest | Sends power to farthest connected machine first |
| Round | Distributes evenly across all connected machines |
Generators
UC has five generator families — Magmator (lava), Furnator (solid fuel), Solar Panel (daylight), Thermo Generator (heat block + water), and Wind Turbine (altitude/weather). Each one's mechanic, crafting recipe, tiers, and energy output lives on the Generators page. However you power a base, they all feed machines through the adjacency + transfer rules above (and the optional cables below).
Energy Storage & Transfer
- Energy cables (
utilitycraft:energy_cable) — carry power from a generator to non-adjacent machines (wired, optional at every tier). - Batteries — store/buffer energy (basic/advanced/expert/ultimate tiers).
- Transmitters / Receivers — wireless energy links. They're the same block toggled between transmit/receive with a wrench; transfer is range-limited (32 blocks at basic tier) and only works between blocks on a matching color-channel network (set via the sneaking-wrench "Basic Network" menu). Not unlimited distance.