Start Capacitors

NOTICE: This page is a Work in Progress as much of the lore/Development for the game is yet to be established.

The Start Capacitors are critical components within the ship's Power Systems, specifically designed to initiate the main Fusion Reactor. They function as high-capacity energy storage devices, delivering the massive power surge required for reactor ignition.

Purpose & Function

Starting a Fusion Reactor requires an enormous, instantaneous burst of energy to initiate plasma confinement and the fusion reaction itself. The Start Capacitors fulfill this need:

• Energy Accumulation: They slowly accumulate a very large electrical charge from auxiliary power sources or the ship's main Battery Rooms when the reactor is offline.
• Rapid Discharge: Upon command, they discharge this stored energy almost instantaneously, providing the high-power pulse needed by the reactor's ignition systems.
• Distinct from Batteries: While batteries provide sustained power over time, Start Capacitors are optimized for extremely fast, high-energy discharge for the specific purpose of reactor start-up.

Location

The Start Capacitors are likely located within or adjacent to the main Engineering spaces, in close proximity to the Reactor Room to minimize power transmission loss during discharge. Their exact location and physical appearance are TBD (Please update if known).

Operation

Operating the Start Capacitors is a key step in the Cold & Dark Start procedure:

• Charging: Requires diverting power from active sources (auxiliary generators or batteries) to charge the capacitor banks. This process likely takes some time.
• Monitoring: Engineering personnel monitor the charge level via dedicated consoles or system readouts within the Engineering department or potentially the Bridge.
• Discharge Sequence: Once fully charged, the capacitors must be discharged as part of the reactor ignition sequence. This is likely a specific command executed from an engineering console. A successful discharge is necessary to bring the main Fusion Reactor online. Failure to charge or discharge correctly will prevent the reactor from starting.

Relation to Other Systems

• Fusion Reactor: Directly interfaces with the reactor's ignition system.
• Power Systems: Charged by the ship's power grid, drawing from Battery Rooms or auxiliary sources when the main reactor is offline.
• Engineering Consoles: Monitored and controlled via interfaces within Engineering.
• Cold & Dark Start: An essential step in this specific start-up procedure (see Tutorial:Cold and Dark).

Development Status

The specific implementation details, console interfaces, charging times, energy capacity, and potential failure modes of the Start Capacitors are subject to refinement during development.