Scooping: Safety or speed

[Traveller_GG]

I keep reading about people saying that they crash and burn when scooping, heat damage here, hull damage there.

I really can't figure this out as there is absolutely *no* need to take any risks at all when scooping. I take screenies when in the corona without any fear of frying, every time. Why?

Because I am at ZERO throttle.

It's really very simple:

Zero throttle when jumping (as you all should)

Minimal (50% max) to take you into the corona, and when you start fuelling, reduce to the throttle to zero. As your speed tails off you simply angle the ship to the maximum scoop rate while keeping the temp safe. You come to a complete halt scooping and can stay there as long as you like. If you don't quite get the rate you want, add a small amount of throttle and stop again when you do.

That's it.

When you're out exploring you want to maximise your safety and this is a very simple way of getting your ship re-fuelled with no danger of burning up.

For those that say "well you can't get the maximum fuel draw that way"...

Yes you can. You simply slowly enter the corona further until you hit the max fuelling rate; and because you are stopped you stay there. If anything, this method is quicker because you are not bouncing along at various not-quite-maximum fuelling rates.

It also means you can honk / scoop, scan the star AND look at the system map while fuelling, so in essence you are saving time. Okay, it takes longer to fly out and jump again but the time gains are minimal when you gain so much in safety. Long term exploring needs to be safe, not quick.

So, in summary:

Zero Throttle when scooping is safe and quick.

 

[Zieman]

One point to consider: 30 km/s is not stationary, you can't come to a complete halt in supercruise.

That said, in the timeframes of fuel scooping, you don't usually need to worry about that.
But I do point the ship's nose past of the star slightly, so I can go AFK if needed.

 

[Traveller_GG]

Zero throttle = stopped. Quit splitting hairs

 

[domaq]

Have to agree with Z on this one. I used to use the OP's technique until being called away by the SO and thinking I was safe. Interrupting adult activities because of a blaring klaxon when your precious Anaconda is about to fry in a flaming ball of superheated gas does not inspire romance! Now I make sure the nose is pointed away even when "stopped."

 

[gooddoc]

I can see how some players get caught by the suns they are scooping from if they do too many things while scooping & get distracted.

I jump in at 0% throttle then aim for the rim edge, up the throttle to 50% & scoop. While scooping i hit my ADS & scan....that's it!
Once im full i turn away from the sun & up to 100% throttle until the scoop disengages, when back to 0% throttle, turn & scan the sun, then turn away from the sun again before looking in the the system map to see my next scan targets.

Works every time.

 

[Zieman]

Zero throttle = stopped. Quit splitting hairs

No, I won't quit splitting hairs when the difference is meaningful.

See:

Have to agree with Z on this one. I used to use the OP's technique until being called away by the SO and thinking I was safe. Interrupting adult activities because of a blaring klaxon when your precious Anaconda is about to fry in a flaming ball of superheated gas does not inspire romance! Now I make sure the nose is pointed away even when "stopped."

for reference.

If you don't believe either of us, try this experiment:
- after jump full throttle towards the star
- hit zero throttle once Fuel Scoop activates
- go AFK, make a cuppa for example
- come back and wait for the emergency stop

 

[Mike W]

In all things, ship safety is the No 1 priority for me ,, i have a routine when fuel scooping that works well for me,, the second i exit the jump, at zero throttle,, i hit 50% and head straight for the very top of the Corona, lining the "Vector" lines of the HUD up with the very wispy upper layers,, by then im scooping 300+, and quickly climbs to the 700+ max rate,, temp during this is in the high 50's, only into mid 60's on a long scoop,,,

 

[Ziljan]

Unless you are farming neutrons or black holes, constantly going afk, or flying tipsy, there is absolutely no reason whatever to zero throttle during jumps. None. Imo it is a redundant prophylactic technique wrapped around the padded styrofoam nerf bat that is fuel scooping.


That being said, if I am going to scan the scooping star anyway, I'll start to slow down when I reach ~50% scooping efficiency, and park in the heart of the corona to take a deep sip between non-sequence stars. But stopping before leaving hyperspace? That removes 99% of the attention required to explore. If I'm ignoring a game that much, I should probably be doing something else instead.

 

[Ripster]

Writes down the word prophylactic

*note to self - must try and use this word at least once a week*

 

[Traveller_GG]

No, I won't quit splitting hairs when the difference is meaningful.

See:

for reference.

If you don't believe either of us, try this experiment:
- after jump full throttle towards the star
- hit zero throttle once Fuel Scoop activates
- go AFK, make a cuppa for example
- come back and wait for the emergency stop

except I'd never be daft enough to walk AWAY from the pc while sitting in the corona of a star. That's just daft. If you DIRECTLY aim your ship straight into the star even at zero throttle the temp will SLOWLY climb. Using zero throttle means you are much safer while scooping and being several thousand LY from help means that safety should be a primary concern.

 

[Zieman]

except I'd never be daft enough to walk AWAY from the pc while sitting in the corona of a star. That's just daft. If you DIRECTLY aim your ship straight into the star even at zero throttle the temp will SLOWLY climb. Using zero throttle means you are much safer while scooping and being several thousand LY from help means that safety should be a primary concern. So Mr "<quip that hopefully wasn't directed at me?> ...?

People do stupid things.

You tell those same people that zero throttle == stationary ship (in supercruise), which is clearly a false statement.

Some people may believe you, and may burn their ships because of that.

I try to politely remind you and everyone else that zero throttle (in supercruise) doesn't equal stationary ship, so there is possible danger in your mechanic, even if it is otherwise solid advice.

 

[Bobo]

Unless you are farming neutrons or black holes, constantly going afk, or flying tipsy, there is absolutely no reason whatever to zero throttle during jumps. None. Imo it is a redundant prophylactic technique wrapped around the padded styrofoam nerf bat that is fuel scooping.

This, a thousand times this. Boggles me why people have so much issue with scooping. I never slow down, apart from the reasons above

 

[newman1702]

Jump in, point to star, use ADS, select star as soon as possible to initiate detailed scan, throttle to 0 when good scooping rate is achieved, bring up system map to see what's out there, make a call whether to remain or keep moving, turn off map to find ship refueled and scan complete, proceed. Even hearing the heat alarm in my Asp almost never happens. Hasn't failed me yet

 

[Chris M Fortune]

If I am in full explore mode, checking every system for interesting stuff I use the zero throttle. If I am going from area to area I run 75% and just skim. Not had an accident once since heading out. Both are safe if you pay attention.

 

[Cmdr Raz]

If I am in full explore mode, checking every system for interesting stuff I use the zero throttle. If I am going from area to area I run 75% and just skim. Not had an accident once since heading out. Both are safe if you pay attention.

Exactly. I've used both approaches (I mostly do the throttle-down when going system by system, meandering my way through the galaxy, while keeping the throttle up when covering distance quickly), and the few mishaps I've had have been due to inattention (see also: alt-tabbing), not because of the method.

 

[Whiterose]

Full speed into the star while yelling Banzai! with Nazareths Razamanazz at full volume, wait until it gets to 340% and slam on the brakes, whilst tilting upwards to scan any object in range. Hull still at 100%.

 

[Sapient6]

If I am in full explore mode, checking every system for interesting stuff I use the zero throttle. If I am going from area to area I run 75% and just skim. Not had an accident once since heading out. Both are safe if you pay attention.

This, except full throttle rather than 75%.

I've taken some damage on my current outing, but none of it was from scooping. Scooping is ridiculously safe. I mean that: it should be terribly dangerous, but it isn't.

 

[Thrawn29]

I must be the most insane and suicidal explorer in Elite though...

Throttle to zero while jumping... oh no dear ! Where's the fun facing a giant star while leaving hyperspace....
I like entering the system at full speed, then change my way just to surf the corona, the set throttle to zero.
Change my way to point directly center of the hot giant bubble and scan/scoop while my ADS is at work.
Then i have a quick look at sysmap and check what needs a detail scan.

Usually when i leave sysmap, the fuel tank is full, the star scanned and i know what i have to scan.

I'm 3kly from Sol, and my Clipper is 100% everywhere.

I only do Zero Throttle tricks when i know i'm arriving at NS or BH, for every other case... i believe in my 400 billions lucky stars !

 

[aRottenKomquat]

I haven't had any heat issues while scooping once I got an A-grade power plant. On my current explorer, a Cobra Mk III, I just full-throttle around the star once while lining up my next jump and that's enough to completely re-fill my tank and I never get above 60% heat.

 

[Pilot Mark]

No need to throttle to zero, only if you know you are jumping into something you intend to scan. I just aim for the top of the green line with throttle to max and skim the top. With an A7 scoop, that normally fills the tanks again. When I see the temp dropping I then start the FSD again and off into the next system, never gets above 65 degrees. A quick glance of the system map to see if there is anything worth stopping for often helps.