A6 vs A7 Power Plant in Python

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

I have gotten myself to the Python, and equipped it with mostly grade A components where it counts. I chose a 5A Shield Generator to leave myself some cargo capacity.
Weapons loadout is 3 heavy fixed pulse lasers and 2 medium gimballed cannons (because I am lousy at pre-aiming cannons while using the pulse lasers)

Because my current setup does not require that much power, I went ahead and equipped the ship with the tier 6 grade A power plant instead of the tier 7 one. My Python is now on 80% power usage with all systems online.

- Benefits of choosing 6A power plant over the 7A:
- same cooling efficiency as its grade 7A big brother;
- 20t lighter;
- 35M credits cheaper;

- Cons: I have no idea, not the foggiest.
Can you tell me if there is something fundamentally wrong that I am missing, that will bite me in the rear when I least expect it?

So far wih this setup and A6 power plant, dogfights, trading, fuelscooping, anything I bother doing in this ship goes streamlined. I absolutely Love this ship!
The only thing I miss is the jump distance of my ASP, so I will probably buy one again when I can afford it, and have decided for a home port.
Any suggestions for a great home port, by the way? (obviously needs to be selling the ASP)

I had a lakon 9 for a while, planning on hauling tonnes of credits, but it was so horrible to fly and a disaster on heat management, and I hated its limit to large landing pads, that I had to sell it again, and instead upgraded my Python to the max. I gladly trade 200k credits per run for a much faster, much more nimble, much more deadly, much better heat managing craft!

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

777Driver · Mar 11, 2015

The extra juice from the A7 is essential if you have the ship kitted out for heavy combat, mine is loaded with shield boosters and hull packages, the extra power of the A7 solves all my problems.

Regarding the T9, I make 600,000 credits each way on a run, and that's just on an average route. It's a no brainer for me to keep the heavy hauler, it allowed me to upgrade all my other ships including a nearly maxed Python very quickly. Plus I don't need to compromise on my Python, it only carries 32T of cargo, purely configured to hunt and kill

Things · Mar 11, 2015

Draxxen said:
- Cons: I have no idea, not the foggiest.
Can you tell me if there is something fundamentally wrong that I am missing, that will bite me in the rear when I least expect it?

The only thing that comes to mind is that lower class parts might have less strength. But with no good way to see the actual numbers, we cannot be sure about it.
Otherwise, there's no problem using a smaller power plant. Explorers do it all the time.
If you are running at 80% power, you can replace it with a 5A one and still have enough power. Saves extra 10 million. May need to put the FSD, Fuel Scoop, etc to a lower priority, though.

Dr Roly · Mar 11, 2015

I usually run an A6 for more jump range (due to lower weight) and lower re-buy costs. However, as 777Driver says, you need the A7 if running lots of shield boosters and banks along with an energy-heavy weapon load.

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks for the replies, guys!

777Driver said:
The extra juice from the A7 is essential if you have the ship kitted out for heavy combat, mine is loaded with shield boosters and hull packages, the extra power of the A7 solves all my problems.

I see. I do not have those modules since my python is not equipped for aggressive combat, so then an A6 should be adequate, since it is covering my power need. It is only if you equip beyond your power plant's output that you need to upgrade?

777Driver said:
Regarding the T9, I make 600,000 credits each way on a run, and that's just on an average route. It's a no brainer for me to keep the heavy hauler, it allowed me to upgrade all my other ships including a nearly maxed Python very quickly. Plus I don't need to compromise on my Python, it only carries 32T of cargo, purely configured to hunt and kill

Oh, I loved the huge credit income on the T9, but it was too slow for me.. I currently have 240t cargo space on the Python, and I get between systems faster. It would be curious to see the difference in credits per hour. Especially since on my Python I can land on outposts, usually alowing me to find better yielding runs. Right now I have a 2550 cr/t roundtrip, giving me 600k. I would think that the python's speed would help yield more per hour than just half of your T9.

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Dr Roly said:
I usually run an A6 for more jump range (due to lower weight) and lower re-buy costs. However, as 777Driver says, you need the A7 if running lots of shield boosters and banks along with an energy-heavy weapon load.

And the extra jumprange is also a good reason why I went with A6 as well. Maybe I will upgrade when or if I get a different trade ship. I just cannot tough it out in the T9...

Iskariot · Mar 11, 2015

I love these kind of discussions. It makes me think about the possibilities off different setups.
Good of you to bring this up Draxxen.
repped.

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Things said:
If you are running at 80% power, you can replace it with a 5A one and still have enough power. Saves extra 10 million. May need to put the FSD, Fuel Scoop, etc to a lower priority, though.

So will an A5, as long as it delivers enough power to a ship's systems, perform just as well as an A6 or A7?

Teklow82 · Mar 11, 2015

I havr a complete A kitted Python. with 128 cargo. mindless trading kinda got to me so now thanks to the 71 stop trade route posted in forums all i need is 128 cargo and still making the $$$

MADmanOne · Mar 11, 2015

Draxxen said:
So will an A5, as long as it delivers enough power to a ship's systems, perform just as well as an A6 or A7?

Yes, it does.

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Teklow82 said:
... thanks to the 71 stop trade route posted in forums all i need is 128 cargo and still making the $$$

Wow, that's a bit more advanced than just running between 2 systems... I assume this is a rares trade route?

Thalios Abraxas · Mar 11, 2015

Draxxen said:
Wow, that's a bit more advanced than just running between 2 systems... I assume this is a rares trade route?

Yus, indeed, you can read all about it here.

Derath · Mar 11, 2015

Prior to 1.2 i'd have said the A7 was overkill that was totally unrequired, now however I think its an extremely valuable upgrade, the extra power can be translated into a whole host of fun extras to run with in combat, more shield boosters, linked SCBs, deliberately power hungry weapon set etc.

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Thalios Abraxas said:
Yus, indeed, you can read all about it here.

Thank You! I will.

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

777Driver said:
Regarding the T9, I make 600,000 credits each way on a run, and that's just on an average route.

Ok, so I just did a testrun on my 2-system trade route, where I jump back and forth, 2 jumps each way, one end is an outpost, to see what I could get.
With my 240t cargo setup I did 3.3M credits in 1 hour. That would be about 13.7k cr/t/hr. So not bad at all.

Abil Midena · Mar 11, 2015

Draxxen said:
Thanks for the replies, guys!

...Especially since on my Python I can land on outposts, usually alowing me to find better yielding runs. Right now I have a 2550 cr/t roundtrip, giving me 600k. ...

I have NEVER found an outpost worth two way trading. It's always 1200 cr FROM the outpost (gold/pallad), then 400-500 back. What in the world are you selling at the outpost??

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Abil Midena said:
I have NEVER found an outpost worth two way trading. It's always 1200 cr FROM the outpost (gold/pallad), then 400-500 back. What in the world are you selling at the outpost??

LHS 1541 (Foda Station) Superconductors → BD+49 1280 (Nakaya Hub) Profit: 1327/t
BD+49 1280 (Nakaya Hub) Imperial Slaves → LHS 1541 (Foda Station) Profit: 1227/t (When I found the route, the slaves only yielded 1k, but price went up over time!)
= Roundtrip profit: 2554/t

It is 17.25LY between the two systems, so I have to stop by BOB to do the route.

Enjoy while it lasts

..this is solo mode by the way. not sure how that affects things for the rest.

Abil Midena · Mar 11, 2015

Draxxen said:
LHS 1541 (Foda Station) Superconductors → BD+49 1280 (Nakaya Hub) Profit: 1327/t
BD+49 1280 (Nakaya Hub) Imperial Slaves → LHS 1541 (Foda Station) Profit: 1227/t (When I found the route, the slaves only yielded 1k, but price went up over time!)
= Roundtrip profit: 2554/t

It is 17.25LY between the two systems, so I have to stop by BOB to do the route.

Enjoy while it lasts

..this is solo mode by the way. not sure how that affects things for the rest.

Nah, I'll stay in my area man. I feel like an old man 'get off my grass' type sometimes when I see another person in my system.

I just wondered what it was the outpost was buying. For the record, I've never seen an outpost buy slaves. I guess I'll keep an eye out. Thanks!

Draxxen · Mar 11, 2015

Abil Midena said:
Nah, I'll stay in my area man. I feel like an old man 'get off my grass' type sometimes when I see another person in my system.
I just wondered what it was the outpost was buying. For the record, I've never seen an outpost buy slaves. I guess I'll keep an eye out. Thanks!

Actually, they are the ones selling slaves. They are buying Superconductors.
I haven't really found a home system yet. I suppose I would need to before I start to increase my number of ships.

Stein · Mar 11, 2015

So about the power plant... I thought that as long as the power plant provided just enough power to cover my needs when deployed - as viewed in the outfitting meny - it was ok. Am I wrong? Is there anything to gain from having an oversized power plant?

Rall · Mar 11, 2015

You generally equip a A6 for weight saving, and a slighty better jump range. The C7 is much cheaper and produced more power.

Shield booster a great for maintaining cargo and getting decent shield strength.

Here's my current trade Python, the A3 shields are as strong a A5s with the boosters. A2 SCB isn't quite enough to bring them to full strength from one bar, but it's good enough.
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=605,5...,2-BQ9Y7_6QB69Y8I,0AA0AA0AA08c08c07205U7Pc7dg