Boilers

## Overview

Ships powered by Steam have two major components. Which are the Boilers and the Steam Engines.
This article will describe how works and how you can assemble it properly.

Like all things building, you can make changes how you can assemble ships. This article will describe the basics boilers themselves.

See Steam Engines for details on the engines themselves.

## How it works

Like Real Boilers and Steam Engines, actual steam is a medium (power) that allows anything using these power plants to move.
Real Steam boilers heat up water until changes into gas. This vapor is pumped into pipes which once all water vapors are removed. When they move to the Steam Engines, the Steam gas pushes turbines that turn the drive shaft and ultimately the propeller.

In the server, the vehicle using steam engines are usually ships, thus article will refer to vehicles as ships. Ship's steam engines are structured so they're similar to the real ones.

Boiler needs Smoke stack to vent it's Exhaust out, such like a car without a muffler. Each Magma block needs it's own "path" out. Example if there two boilers, 1 magma per boiler. Each boiler needs only 1 block of "empty" space leading to the smoke stack and out side. The path of magma needs can be combined when exiting the ship's smoke stack. See the example.

All key parts of a Steam Boilers have control panels / signs that must have someone operating them. Player or NPC / Crew. When a ship is activated in Easy Mode, they are "manned". These npc or a player must turn these panels on so being the process of starting up the ship. A Steam ship is required to *"Build Up Steam"* in order to begin to move. Depending on the size of boiler and the weight of the ship. It can take matter of seconds or real time minutes.

### Boilers Construction

Boilers use magma encased in obsidian (abbreviated as "obby") blocks with exception of the top.

Boilers need bottom, sides in a cup shape to make it functional. Boilers need diamond ore block which needs to connect to the Steam Generator and ultimately the Steam engines.

You can have more magma per boiler if desired. This is usually needed for larger ships. However, balancing power generated by the boilers with Steam Engine is important. This will require testing in the SeaTrials area.

## How to Use a Boiler

Engine signs can be used by player or remotely via the NPC Crew / Villagers. When the server world is set to "Crew Mode". Engines must be MANUALLY adjusted by player crew to activate and change speeds. However, villagers can be present to maintain stablity.

* Activation
Turning it on, hold shft and right click the active boiler sign.

* Changing Speeds
Once the ship has generated enough PSI (Pressure-per Square Inch), the engines can be increase speed by right or left clicking the sign. (no shift)

* Note - Maintenance : Boilers are adjust to presence of a person or npc. If no one standing in front these signs or near them. A timer will countdown and the boilers will degrade. They will ultimately shut down must be reactivated. Engines will not operate with out the boilers.

## How to Build a Boiler

* Components Needed
Magma block(s), Obsidian blocks (enough to enclose the magma in cup shape), diamond ore blocks to connect to SteamGen and Steam Engines, 1 oak sign. Optional blocks Boiler Window (Acacia Fence Gate) (to see inside the boiler),

### Steps to assembling a Boiler

The following is assumed you know where your placing your boilers, as well your engines & steamgen (not required but recommended).

* Step 1 : A build bottom of the boiler's "floor" made of "obby".
* Step 2 : Add obby to the walls encasing the magma blocks (you can more than one as per needed, magma can be touch each other but must be enclosed the obby below and on the sides, 1 block above.
* Step 3 : You can add a Boiler Window to be able look at the boiler (this is optional)
* Step 4 : Make sure a diamond ore block is connected to the boiler sides or bottom. So other equipment needing the boiler can operate.
* Step 5 : Setup the smoke stack as wide as there are magma.
* Step 6 : Add Oak sign. Write "Boiler" on the top line, add a number exclusively assigned to that boiler "Boiler" "1" extra. Each boiler added, must have different number.

* Remember Boiler's Smoke stacks MUST have a path as you have magma. Three Magma, needs a 3-path for the steam to go out of ship's boilers.

## Trouble Shooting

* Not Enough PSI / Lost Steam
This means either boiler is damage (missing block containing the fire) or the Smoke Stack is not wide enough for the total amount of magma the boiler is using.

* Boilers / Engines are overheating
Boilers without a player or NPC Crew (villager) at the Boiler sign, will cause the engines to malfunction and blow up. (explodes) Water hitting these boilers inners will result in such a explosion. Most likely sinking the ship.

* No npc crew!
NPC Crew can be summons using the steel hoe acquired from the vcrew sign. If a crew member has not been killed or no remaining reserve crew is available. These npcs can be summoned or a player must stand near this sign or return to it before the timer is up.