Guide to Setting Up the Singularity

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Welcome to Engineering, scrub!

This is where you'll start off. It's a scary place out there, but have no fear! Except for the singularity. Fear LORD SINGULOTH.

Introduction

The primary and by far the strongest energy generator for the station is the Singularity Engine, which draws on the raw and mighty power of a black hole, otherwise known as a singularity, otherwise known as the singlo, otherwise known as LORD SINGULOTH, DEVOURER OF ENGINEERING.

The power for the station comes from SMESs that store and distribute electricity generated by plasma-powered Radiation Collectors. The radiation they collect is emitted from the singularity. The singularity is created by a Particle Accelerator focusing excited particles onto a singularity generator. The singularity springs forth from the singularity generator, located in a pocket space just aft of Engineering, and devours anything in its path. Luckily, the singularity is held in place by stasis Field Generators which are powered by laser-firing Emitters. Unluckily, the singularity is close enough to Engineering to overload radio headsets, to spew out EMPs that cause airlocks to open randomly, and to cause anyone nearby to glow and go blind if they're not wearing proper equipment.

When the shift starts, the station is solely dependent on stored power in the solars' and singlo's SMESs. The solars' SMESs are drained quickly, and the singlo's SMESs will drain soon afterward. If the singlo's SMESs run dry before the singlo is powering the station, the Field Generators and Particle Accelerator will shut down. To restart the Singularity Engine, one must initiate emergency power generation.

Sound complex, dangerous, and extremely sensitive to time restrictions? That's because it is. Luckily, Nanotransen has been steadily dumbing down the engineering setup process needed to create a backyard singularity to the point where monkeys could do it, if they knew what buttons to push and could breathe in the vacuum of spess air. Until they can, *you* are to take the place of those monkey.

Setting Up the Singularity

Here is a basic flowchart for setting up the singularity.

Several tasks need to be completed BEFORE* the particle accelerator (PA) is turned on. The particular order of the first group of items doesn't matter as long as they are done prior to turning on the PA.

1. Prepping the PA
   1. Configuring the APC (optional)
   2. Configuring the SMES
   3. Loading the radiation collectors
   4. Starting the emitters and field
   5. Setting up the PA
2. Turning on and tuning the PA

_{*Note: A rookie engineer could attempt to turn on the PA before all the prerequisite steps are completed. However, one of three scenarios will happen: the PA won't turn on because it's not wired properly, the SMESs won't charge because it's either not inputting electricity or not set to charge, or most likely, LORD SINGULOTH WILL DEVOUR ENGINEERING AS IT HAS BEEN FORETOLD.}

Configuring the APC — Optional

Tools needed: ID (or ID-loaded PDA)

For rookie Engineers, it is recommended that the Engineering APC is re-configured before continuing. This will ensure the equipment needed to contain the singlo will stay on for an extended duration.

1. Stand adjacent to the Engineering APC.

Photo of the Engineering APC is all its locked glory.

_{Note that this photo is out-of-date as of 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)}

2. Unlock the APC controls by swiping your ID on it. To do this, take your ID (or ID-loaded PDA) in hand and click the APC. The little light in the upper right corner of the APC should turn green and a confirmation text in your chat window that says you've unlocked the APC. If already opened, the APC controls interface's grey inactive buttons should turn an active blue, and the message at the top of the screen will say to swipe your ID again to lock the interface.

Photo of the same APC, yet now it is unlocked.

_{Note that this photo is out-of-date as of 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)}

3. Now click the APC with a free hand to bring up the APC controls interface.
4. Set the Equipment to On instead of Auto. This forces the APC to send all power to the Equipment, like the Emitters and the PA, first. Environment and Lighting will become a lower priority and turn off if there is not enough power for them. This gives you more time to screw around hone your singlo set-up skills.

APC Settings Screen

_{Note that this photo is out-of-date as of 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)}

5. Swipe your ID on the APC again to lock the interface so that scurrilous mimes don't change the settings when you're not looking.

Now the APC has the room power prioritized to the Equipment. On to the next task.

Configuring the SMESs

The three white thingamabobs are the station's primary SMES cells. They're connected directly to the Radiation Collectors that create electricity from radiation generated by the singularity. Each round, they start off with enough power to last an experienced Engineer through setting up the singularity. Since you're not experienced, you should configure these a bit before moving on.

Here a mysterious white arrow is pointing at the SMES battery in Engineering.

_{Note that this photo is out-of-date as of 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)}

To alter the configuration of a SMES cell, stand adjacent or diagonally to the SMES and click on it.

SMES Settings Screen
File:Engichangingsmes.png

_{Note that this photo is out-of-date as of 23:38, 8 February 2015 (UTC)}

There are two methods of thought when configuring the SMESs — a straight-forward, simplistic, basic set-up; and a more involved, optimized, advanced set-up.

Basic SMES Configuration

Tools needed: none

This is the quickest way to set the SMESs, but not the most optimal. See the Guide to Power for information about SMES settings and Advanced SMES Configuration for more information on optimizing the singlo SMESs.

1. Set Input from Off to On.
2. Increase Input level to Maximum (200 kW).
3. Increase Output level to Maximum (200 kW).

Since you've taken the easy way out simpler method, you should now skip over to the Loading the Radiation Collectors.

Advanced SMES Configuration

Tools needed: none

Because SMESs draw power in a set order, or power queue, and the station only draws about 150kW in the early part of the shift, the SMES output can be optimized to charge all SMESs evenly, meaning that no excess energy is wasted trying to charge already full SMESs. To do this, the Output on the first two SMESs in the power queue needs to be reduced while the final SMES in the queue needs to be set to maximum to cover power fluctuations. We'll choose 50kW for the reduced powers on SMES #1 and #2 since that's 150kW split among the 3 SMESs.

1. Set Input from Off to On.
2. Increase Input level to Maximum (200 kW).
3. On SMESs #1 and #2, manually decrease Output level to 50000 W (50 kW) if they are not that way already.
4. On SMES #3, increase Output level to Maximum (200 kW).

These output settings may need to be set to Maximum later, after the SMESs are fully charged, or when backup SMESs are wired up and charging.

Loading the Radiation Collectors

No one will admit it, but the six Radiation Collectors are the true heroes on the station. Even if a singularity were running at optimal conditions, the station still wouldn't generate power without these puppies. The only catch is that the Collectors need plasma in order to do their job. Partially-filled plasma tanks are already setting next to the collectors when the shift starts.

The Radiation Collectors sit in two banks of three Collectors. One bank is adjacent of the PA Room on the port side; the other bank is adjacent on the starboard side.

Like the SMESs, the Radiation Collectors have two major methods of set-up — a simple, safer, yet incomplete set-up; and a more involved, potentially disastrous, but thorough set-up.

Basic Radiation Collector Set-Up

Tools Needed: none

Since the nearby plasma tanks are already partially-filled, they'll work just fine in the Radiation Collectors for a while.

1. Stand adjacent to the Collectors in either bank.
2. With an empty hand, pick up the orange Plasma Tank laying on top of one of the Collectors.
3. Insert the Tank into the Collector by clicking on the Collector with the hand holding the Tank. You'll see the orange Plasma Tank through the small window in the bottom left corner of the Collector after it's inserted.
4. Click on the Collector one more time to raise its purple collection screen.
5. Optional — Swipe the Collector with your ID (or ID-loaded PDA) to lock it from troublemakers.
6. Repeat this for each Collector, on both banks, for a total of six (6) Radiation Collectors.

However, because the Plasma Tanks are only partially filled, the Radiation Collectors will soon run out of plasma and the screens will fall back into their inactive position. To generate more electricity, the Plasma Tanks will need to be re-fuelled.

Advanced Radiation Collector Set-Up

Tools Needed: Plasma Gas Canister, Crowbar (possible), Gas Mask (optional), O₂ Tank (optional)

The more complete method is to fill the Plasma Tanks before inserting them into the Collectors. This ensures that the Radiation Collectors will be on for the duration of the shift. However, one slip of the finger and Engineering will be flooded with lethal and flammable plasma gas. An experienced Engineer would know to halt setting up the singularity engine, and instead siphon the plasma gas from Engineering first before continuing with singularity set-up.

1. Optional — Put on a Gas Mask and O₂ Tank, and start Internals air flow. If there is a plasma leak, at least you won't be trying to inhale poisonous gas.
2. Request that the CE or AI open Engineering Secure Storage, if they haven't already while you were reading this.
3. Retrieve the red Plasma Gas Canister from Secure Storage by ctrl+clicking it, and move yourself adjacent to the first Radiation Collector. Make sure that the Canister is not between you and the Collector or you will not be able to reach over to the Collector.
4. With an empty hand, pick up the orange Plasma Tank laying on top of one of the Collectors.
5. Insert the Tank into red Canister by clicking on the Canister with the hand holding the Tank. (If you screwed up and put the Plasma Tank into the Collector instead of the Canister, then you are a rookie. Eject the Plasma Tank from the Collector by prying it out with a Crowbar.)
6. Click on the Canister a second time — this time with your now empty hand — to bring up the Canister valve settings panel.
7. Increase the valve pressure to maximum (1013.25 kPa) by clicking on the rightmost '+' icon. You'll only need to do this once.
8. IMPORTANT: Verify that the Tank is present in the Canister. You can see the Tank's pressure in the panel.
9. Click on the 'Closed' link to open the pressure valve on the Canister. The link will change from 'Closed' to 'Open'. If the Tank was not installed in the Canister, Engineering should be full of plasma now, and the circle of awesomeness is complete.
10. Wait until the panel indicates that the pressure in the Tank is also at (1013.25 kPa).
11. IMPORTANT: Close the pressure valve by clicking the 'Open' link on the panel.
12. IMPORTANT: Verify the valve reads as 'Closed' on the panel.
13. IMPORTANT: Verify the valve reads as 'Closed' on the panel again because you just skimmed over the previous instruction.
14. Click on the 'Remove Tank' link on the panel. The Plasma Tank should be lying on top of the Canister now. Also, if you didn't close the valve, Engineering should be steadily filling with Plasma.
15. Pick up the filled Plasma Tank laying on top of the Canister.
16. Insert the Tank into the Collector by clicking on the Collector with the hand holding the Tank. You'll see the orange Plasma Tank through the small window in the bottom left corner of the Collector after it's inserted.
17. Click on the Collector one more time to raise its purple collection screen.
18. Optional — Swipe the Collector with your ID (or ID-loaded PDA) to lock it from troublemakers.
19. Repeat this for each Collector, on both banks, for a total of six (6) Radiation Collectors.
20. Return the red Plasma Gas Canister to Engineering Secure Storage.
21. After exiting Secure Storage, request the CE or AI to close Secure Storage.

Checking the Radiation Collectors

Electricity is only generated with the Radiation Collectors are collecting radiation, and they're only collecting radiation when their Plasma Tanks aren't empty and the collection screen is up.

To check that the Collectors are running, it's as easy as looking at them. If the radiation shutters are down because, say, the singularity is spewing out all kinds of deadly, invisible radiation, then you'll need to either...

• ...put on a radiation suit and open the shutters, warning your comrades before you do so, or...
• ...use the viewing screen to look at the port and starboard collector banks using cameras mounted in the singularity area the outside of the station.

If the purple collection screens are not up, then the Collectors either need re-fuelling or just need the screens turned on. Be sure to put on radiation gear and optical mesons scanners if you plan to work on the Collectors while the singlo is active.

Re-fuelling the Radiation Collectors

Tools Needed: Crowbar, Plasma Gas Canister, Radiation Hood (possible), Radiation Suit (possible), Optical Meson Scanners (possible), Gas Mask (optional), O₂ Tank (optional)

The plasma tanks will eventually run out of plasma. When this happens, everything will fail and it will be your fault the Radiation Collectors will power down and their collection screens will move to the inactive position. The Collectors will need to be re-fuelled in order to generate more electricity.

1. If the singularity is active in the singularity area, don a Radiation Hood, a Radiation Suit, and Optical Meson Scanners before approaching the Collectors.
2. If the radiation shutters are closed, they'll need to be opened with the switch next to either the port or starboard doors of the PA Room.
3. Stand adjacent to the Radiation Collector.
4. Use a Crowbar on the Radiation Collector to pry out the Plasma Tank. The Plasma Tank will be lying on the Collector when finished. If the Collector was active, it will turn off and the collection screen will lower into the inactive position.
5. To re-fill the Plasma Tanks, follow the Advanced Radiation Collector Set-Up guide.

Starting the Emitters and Field

Don't run into space with your normal engineering clothes. You will die. You'll need the following:

• Hardsuit helmet (turn on the light by either clicking it with your active hand, while it's in your active hand, or click the popup box you will see at the upper left corner)
• Hardsuit
• Breath mask
• Oxygen tank, from where we got our plasma tanks earlier

Now you're ready to go out there.
Remember to turn your oxygen on, right before you head into space!

The first thing you need to do is turn on all 4 emitters. [1]

Simply click it, and it'll switch on. You can also lock emitters with a swipe of your ID, just like collectors.

After all 4 emitters are on, you need to turn on all 8 field generators. [2]

Similar to the emitters, just click the field generator and it will cut on. Once it is on, you cannot turn it off manually. It's probably easiest to go around the generators in a circle.

Setting Up the Particle Accelerator

This really is a simple process. [3]

It's all a matter of walking around and clicking each piece with the following, in this order:

• Wrench
• Cable coil
• Screwdriver

So remember... [4]
After you set up that business, go click on the PA Control Console (the computer). [5]
Click Run Scan.
Now you have the ability to blast it on!

Starting the PA

Now we can finally start up the singularity. Hoorah!

You're going to want to put on a radiation suit before turning it on. The radiation that comes from the singularity can cause some bad side-effects for you.

You will also want optical meson scanners covering your eyeballs. Staring directly into the singularity without protection can also cause some bad side-effects. Set the particle strength to 2, then turn the PA on!
Now stand and watch, until the singularity looks like this.

Quickly run back to the PA and set the particle strength to 0, but keep the PA on.
This will ensure that the singularity existing doesn't die out eventually, but also doesn't continue to grow.

Important Notes

• The TG wiki will say that although it is set on, the singularity will eventually die out. I have no idea where TG got this from, because as I type this now, I've had a singularity up and running just fine for at least 4 1/2 hours. Seeing how most Yog rounds end around ~2 hours, this shouldn't be a problem.

Reconfiguring the SMES

Now that our SMES are charging with the power of the singularity, we should up the output level. I usually set the input/output to 200,000/100,000 for each. Remember to have the input to auto, and to have the output to online.

Congrats! You just set up a Singularity!

Troubleshooting

When should I re-configure the SMESs next?

Answer: If the singlo is running, and the SMESs are full or backups are charging, feel free to turn them up to maximum (200 kW) output. If the SMESs are not full and there are no backups, it's best to distribute the load evenly between the SMESs so that they can all charge at the same rate. If the singlo is not and will not be running soon, turn output to minimal levels to conserve power. It's also okay to reduce output when a power sink is active aboard the station.

Why is the singlo eating the station?

Answer: Either someone (not naming any names here) didn't turn on the containment field like they were supposed to; or someone (still not naming names) let the power ran dry in the station's SMESs and the Emitters turned off and the Field Generators died; or someone (fine, it's your fault) had the PA running above 0 for too long.
Action: Switch to solars for main power. Check to see if the singlo ate any important parts. If it didn't, set up the singularity engine again using the spare singularity generator in Engineering Secure Storage.

Why won't the Emitters turn on?

Answer: There's no power in the station SMESs; or they're not wired correctly.
Action: Check the singlo's SMESs in Engineering. If they still have charge, then check the wiring for the Emitters. Also, check that your hands are empty.

Why are the SMESs empty?

Answer: The station used up all the power because either the singularity engine wasn't set up fast enough or the Radiation Collectors aren't collecting radiation or wiring.
Action: Check that the Radiation Collector have their purple screens up. If not, they'll need their Plasma Tanks filled with plasma and installed in the Collector with the purple screen switched on by clicking on it. If the Collectors are ready and waiting, then check the wiring. If the wiring looks good, then you'll have to initiate emergency power generation.

Why won't the PA turn on?

Answer: The PA isn't set up properly and it knows better than to let incompetent Engineers turn it on when it's not set up properly.
Action: Check that the covers to all seven PA sections are closed with your screwdriver. If they aren't, check that all seven sections are wired with a coil of wires. If they aren't wired, then check to see if you know how to read because we already went over this above.

Help! I'm stuck in front of the PA! Why can't I get away from it?

Answer: The singularity has a gravitational pull, which grows with each level of strength. If you stand too close, the singlo will pull you towards it, which coincidentally (and fittingly) also happens to be directly in front of the PA.
Action: Next time, don't stand in front of the PA. This time, pray to whatever gods exist in this godforsaken sector of spess.

Help! I just got hit by an Emitter! What do I do?

Answer: Don't stand in front of active Emitters.
Action: Duh.

Help! I went outside to check the singlo and now I'm bouncing off the fields! How could I have prevented this?

Answer: That's not how you check the singlo.
Action: Next time use the camera screen inside Engineering. Or don't. See if I care.

Why are there no lights in Engineering?

Answer: For rookie Engineers, the most common reason is that the APC doesn't have enough power to turn them on because you took too long setting up the singularity engine and you're being rightfully punished. For experienced Engineers, the most common reason is that an electrical storm busted all the lights and you're being unfairly punished by the spess gods.
Action: Sit in the dark and think about why you deserve this.