Rust Electricity Guide: Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, and Wiring
Electricity powers cameras, lights, alarms, and more. Here's how the whole system fits together, from generation to wiring.
Electricity is a genuinely useful system in Rust, powering things like CCTV cameras and ceiling lights. It's measured in rWm (rustWatts-minute), and the whole system boils down to three steps: generate power, store it, and wire it where it needs to go.
Generating Power
You can generate electricity with a Large Solar Panel, a Wind Turbine, or a Small Generator.
- Large Solar Panel — research cost 75 scrap, crafted with 25 HQM, 30-second craft time, requires a Tier 1 workbench, recycles back into 13 HQM.
- Wind Turbine — research cost 250 scrap, crafted with 1,500 wood, 30 HQM, 3 gears, and 10 sheet metal, 30-second craft time, requires a Tier 2 workbench, recycles into 750 wood, 15 HQM, 2 gears, and 5 sheet metal.
Storing Power
Once you're generating power, you need somewhere to store it — that means batteries.
- Small Rechargeable Battery — research cost 20 scrap, crafted with 10 HQM, 30-second craft time, Tier 1 workbench, recycles into 5 HQM.
- Large Rechargeable Battery — research cost 75 scrap, crafted with 80 HQM, 30-second craft time, Tier 2 workbench, recycles into 40 HQM.
(A Medium Rechargeable Battery also exists as a middle option between these two.)
Wiring It Together
The Wire Tool is what physically connects every electrical component — crafted from high-quality metal, it lets power actually flow between devices. To use it, equip the tool and left-click on a device's attachment point (an off-white cube that turns yellow when you're pointing at it), then left-click again to pin the wire in place and guide it to whatever you're connecting it to. You can also walk through walls with an active wire and it'll route straight through, though wire length is limited, so plan your runs. A common practical tip: hide your wiring inside or behind walls so raiders can't easily trace your power source if they break in.
Common Electrical Components
Beyond panels and batteries, the electrical system includes: the Wire Tool, Timer, XOR/AND/OR Switches, plain Switch, Audio Alarm, Igniter, HBHF Sensor, Laser Detector, Flasher Light, Siren Light, Small Generator, Blocker, Electrical Branch, RAND Switch, Memory Cell, Root Combiner, Splitter, Auto Turret, SAM Site, and Tesla Coil — a genuinely deep system once you start combining logic components for automated defenses or alarms.
Should I start with solar power or a wind turbine?
Solar panels are cheaper and only need a Tier 1 workbench, making them the more accessible starting option; wind turbines cost significantly more and need Tier 2, but can be worth it for bigger power needs once you're established.
Why hide my wiring inside walls?
If a raider gets into your base, exposed wiring makes it trivial to trace back to your power source (and anything it's protecting, like an alarm or turret) and disable it. Hidden wiring adds a layer of obscurity that costs nothing but a bit of extra planning.
What's the simplest thing to power with a starter electrical setup?
A basic CCTV camera or an audio alarm are common first projects — both are relatively cheap to research and give you an immediate practical benefit (surveillance or an intrusion warning) for a small power budget.
Is the electrical system worth learning as a new player?
It's more of a mid-to-late-game system — new players are usually better off focusing on base building and farming fundamentals first, then coming back to electricity once they have a stable base and some spare scrap to research it.