Question: recharging with Diesels

Catfish · 04-19-08, 03:15 AM

Hello,
only a question, has anyone tried yet to modify the battery recharging process in SH3 ? It is probably not too important for gameplay, but I came across that in another thread, and since i saw what all has been changed, i wondered if we also could make recharging more realistic.

When the batteries are charged in SH3, only one propellor/screw(?) turns, indicating that one Diesel is used for propulsion, the other for charging.

It was possible to do that, however historically it was not the only possibility to charge the batteries. The way it is handled in SH3 you are restricted to run at much less than flank speed, having only one Diesel for propulsion while the other charges the batteries. In a real german U-boat you would not have to stop one propellor to charge the batteries. This is completely different from the US approach used in their submarines.

The power line in a U-boat was (2x) Diesel - propshaft - propellor.
The electric engines sit "in the middle", at the propshafts. If you use the electric engines, the Diesels are unclutched/uncoupled(?), and the electric engines are clutched (or coupled ?) to the propshafts.
When the boat surfaces, and wants to charge the batteries, the Diesel is clutched to the propshaft. The electric engines are still clutched to the propshaft, but now electrically switched to charge the batteries - the electric engines serve as dynamoes. Not so effective like with a real dynamo used only for charging, but effective in sparing space, less hardware, and another advantage:

A U-boat could well run at flank with both propellors turning, and still charging the batteries - however flank speed of say 18-19 knots was reduced to 15/16 by the effort to turn the dynamoes. As soon as the batteries were completely charged, the dynamoes would be unclutched, allowing the propshaft to turn freely again.

(2. not important: A third combination would be to additionally couple the electric engines on the propshafts and add their power to the Diesels. It drained the batteries quickly, but the speed was appx. 20 knots depending on the boat, if only for a short time. This was occasionally done in "hairy" situations, if not often)

So can we change SH3 and alter the recharge process that it reflects the "real" thing ? Both props turning, flank speed during charging of, say, 15 knots ?
I do not know where the code of the turning screws and charging is - if it is hardcoded we probably will not be able to change it without SDK, but .... any idea ?

Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

Siara · 04-19-08, 03:20 AM

Im sure it will be much easier to play without external cam, and just enjoy the game as it is. You can still switch off the charging process in "hairy situations". :hmm:

Catfish · 04-19-08, 03:24 AM

Hello,
Siara you are right, and it was only a question. I know all the testing and such would surely take too much time with SH4 on the shelves.
It is just an idea - maybe someone has already stumbled about an easy solution. Otherwise it is good enough, but had we never asked etc. there would be no mod at all.

Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

04-19-08, 03:15 AM	#1
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,767 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Question: recharging with Diesels Hello, only a question, has anyone tried yet to modify the battery recharging process in SH3 ? It is probably not too important for gameplay, but I came across that in another thread, and since i saw what all has been changed, i wondered if we also could make recharging more realistic. When the batteries are charged in SH3, only one propellor/screw(?) turns, indicating that one Diesel is used for propulsion, the other for charging. It was possible to do that, however historically it was not the only possibility to charge the batteries. The way it is handled in SH3 you are restricted to run at much less than flank speed, having only one Diesel for propulsion while the other charges the batteries. In a real german U-boat you would not have to stop one propellor to charge the batteries. This is completely different from the US approach used in their submarines. The power line in a U-boat was (2x) Diesel - propshaft - propellor. The electric engines sit "in the middle", at the propshafts. If you use the electric engines, the Diesels are unclutched/uncoupled(?), and the electric engines are clutched (or coupled ?) to the propshafts. When the boat surfaces, and wants to charge the batteries, the Diesel is clutched to the propshaft. The electric engines are still clutched to the propshaft, but now electrically switched to charge the batteries - the electric engines serve as dynamoes. Not so effective like with a real dynamo used only for charging, but effective in sparing space, less hardware, and another advantage: A U-boat could well run at flank with both propellors turning, and still charging the batteries - however flank speed of say 18-19 knots was reduced to 15/16 by the effort to turn the dynamoes. As soon as the batteries were completely charged, the dynamoes would be unclutched, allowing the propshaft to turn freely again. (2. not important: A third combination would be to additionally couple the electric engines on the propshafts and add their power to the Diesels. It drained the batteries quickly, but the speed was appx. 20 knots depending on the boat, if only for a short time. This was occasionally done in "hairy" situations, if not often) So can we change SH3 and alter the recharge process that it reflects the "real" thing ? Both props turning, flank speed during charging of, say, 15 knots ? I do not know where the code of the turning screws and charging is - if it is hardcoded we probably will not be able to change it without SDK, but .... any idea ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish

04-19-08, 03:20 AM	#2
Siara Grey Wolf Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mitcham/London Posts: 818 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Im sure it will be much easier to play without external cam, and just enjoy the game as it is. You can still switch off the charging process in "hairy situations". :hmm: __________________ Master Models

04-19-08, 03:24 AM	#3
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,767 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hello, Siara you are right, and it was only a question. I know all the testing and such would surely take too much time with SH4 on the shelves. It is just an idea - maybe someone has already stumbled about an easy solution. Otherwise it is good enough, but had we never asked etc. there would be no mod at all. Thanks and greetings, Catfish