Laser power systems: Quantum Glass, Laser Emitters, and wireless energy

Prerequisites

Before building a laser power network, you need access to several late-game resources and crafting stations:

• Powered Crafting Bench — required to craft Laser Emitters and Converters
• Hand Drill — used for initial assembly; upgrading to a Power Drill (requires 1 Carbon Plating, 1 Energy Brick, 1 Anteverse Gem) reduces assembly time from 10 hits to 8 hits per item
• Hazardous Materials Suit — needed when handling Power Cells, which emit 0.05 radiation per item; store them in a Hazard Crate to prevent leakage
• Power Cells — found in Flathill (plugged into equipment boxes), Office Sector (near Data Farm, requires Keypad Hacker Tier 2), Manufacturing West (above Foundry, in Mapping Center, in Shipping cave, in Radioactive Waste truck), Cascade Laboratories (Cold Storage freezer, server room), and Hydroplant (broken SUV on bridge)

Understanding the Laser Power Chain

The laser power system replaces physical cable routing with wireless energy transmission. The chain has four stages, and each stage has specific placement requirements.

Stage 1: Power Source

Any standard power source works: Makeshift Battery, Industrial Battery, Carbon Battery, or Generator. Connect it to a Laser Emitter using a short cable. The cable segment is the only wired connection in the system.

Stage 2: Laser Emitter

The Emitter converts stored power into a directed laser beam. It requires a Powered Crafting Bench to construct. The Emitter has a visible beam that shows exactly where power travels. Place it facing the direction you want energy to go. The beam continues in a straight line until it hits a solid wall, a Laser Relay, or a Laser Power Converter.

Stage 3: Laser Relay (Optional)

Use Relays when the beam needs to change direction or pass through a gap. Each Relay redirects the incoming beam at an angle you choose when placing it. Chain multiple Relays to route power around corners, through doorways, or along corridors. Each bounce reduces total power by approximately 5 percent, so limit chains to 5 Relays maximum per path.

Stage 4: Laser Power Converter

The Converter transforms the laser beam back into standard plug sockets. Place it at the destination where you need power. Connect benches, lights, defenses, and other devices to the Converter's output side, just as you would connect them to a Plug Strip. One Converter supports multiple devices, but total draw depends on your power source capacity.

Decision Table: Cable Power vs. Laser Power

When to use cable power: Early game, small bases, temporary outposts, or when you have not yet reached late-game sectors.

When to use laser power: Large permanent bases, multi-room layouts, defensive positions that need reliable power during raids, or any situation where cable routing becomes impractical.

Numbered Workflow: Setting Up Your First Laser Network

1. Craft the core components. At a Powered Crafting Bench, build one Laser Emitter and one Laser Power Converter per destination room. Craft Laser Relays as needed for corners. Gather Quantum Glass from Crystalisk enemies in Manufacturing Mines, Containment Crates in Containment Block, or storage rooms in Cascade Laboratories.

2. Place the Emitter and check line of sight. Position the Emitter on a flat surface facing the general direction of your first destination. Stand at the Emitter and look along the beam path. The beam must reach the Relay or Converter without passing through solid walls. If the beam hits a wall, move the Emitter or add a Relay to redirect.

3. Install Relays for direction changes. Place each Relay at the point where the beam needs to turn. The Relay face must align with the incoming beam. After placing, check that the beam connects to the Relay and bounces toward the next destination. For 90-degree turns, position the Relay at the corner with the beam entering one face and exiting the adjacent face.

4. Place Converters at destinations. Position each Converter so the incoming beam hits its receiving face. Connect your devices to the Converter's output sockets. Verify that each device powers on.

5. Test the full chain. Activate the power source. Walk the beam path from Emitter through each Relay to each Converter. If any segment is broken, check alignment and line of sight. A beam that shoots into a wall indicates the Emitter or Relay is not facing the correct direction.

Recovery Advice: Fixing Common Problems

Beam does not reach the Relay or Converter. Move the Emitter closer or adjust its rotation. Stand at the Emitter and look directly at the target — if you cannot see the target from that position, the beam cannot reach it either.

Power loss is too high. Count the Relays in the chain. If you have more than 5, reduce the chain length by moving the Emitter closer to the destination or adding a second Emitter fed from the same power source.

Converter has power but devices do not work. Check that the Converter is receiving the beam (visible laser line should end at the Converter face). Verify that the total device draw does not exceed the power source output. Disconnect devices one at a time to isolate the problem.

Power Leech event disrupts the network. Power Leeches attach to power outlets and batteries, draining electricity. A Portal Suppression Field (crafted at a Crafting Bench) automatically kills Power Leeches on contact. Build a Suppression Field near your power source and Emitter to protect the network during Rolling Blackout weather events.

Quantum Glass is scarce. Farm Crystalisk enemies in Manufacturing Mines for Powdered Crystal and occasional Quantum Glass drops. Check Containment Crates in Containment Block and storage rooms in Cascade Laboratories. The Director's Office safe in Office Sector Level 3 contains a guaranteed one-time Quantum Glass drop.