17 replies to this topic

[Deamonition]

This might look like a noob question, but I don't understand why I have so much overheating problem with my HBK-4G. The buid is relatively standard, though I changed some details. I have a 1.25 Heating Capacity and just shooting my AC20 makes me overheat. I do not cooldown enough between each shot of AC20, hence shutting down after maybe 3 to 4 shots.

Kind of surprising when my Atlas has just above 1.0 of heating capacity and I can shoot my medium lasers, AC20 and such without much problem. Of course that requires me to be careful, but with my HBK I just can't even shoot lasers, it's a garanteed shutdown.

What don't I understand?

Thanks in advance.

[Gremlich Johns]

My hunchies only overheat when I shoot waaaay too much or someone has blown out most of my hunchie 4G/4SP 13/15 DHS (which give me heat eff of 1.44/1.23). My 4G (13 DHS) has the AC20 and 3xMLas and I do not alpha them unless I have to. I put the AC20 on one JS button, the 3xMLAas on chain-fire (normal shooting mode) on button 2 and alpha the lasers on button 3 (everything on button 4 if I'm feeling froggy on Caustic). I use the std 200 engine and have Endo-steel installed. My 4SP (15 DHS) has 15 DHS and a heat eff of 1.23 - again, chain the 5xMLas on button 2 and alpha them on button 3. Endo-steel and the STD 230 engine. A side note, I do not recommend using an XL on the Hunchie - you can if you want, but after the AC20/10/msl/LASORZ (4P) on the hunchies' torsos get blown out, you're dead.

Edited by Gremlich Johns, 28 April 2013 - 07:05 AM.

[Deamonition]

Gremlich Johns, on 28 April 2013 - 07:01 AM, said:

My hunchies only overheat when I shoot waaaay too much or someone has blown out most of my hunchie 4G/4SP 13/15 DHS (which give me heat eff of 1.44/1.23). My 4G (13 DHS) has the AC20 and 3xMLas and I do not alpha them unless I have to. I put the AC20 on one JS button, the 3xMLAas on chain-fire (normal shooting mode) on button 2 and alpha the lasers on button 3 (everything on button 4 if I'm feeling froggy on Caustic). I use the std 200 engine and have Endo-steel installed. My 4SP (15 DHS) has 15 DHS and a heat eff of 1.23 - again, chain the 5xMLas on button 2 and alpha them on button 3. Endo-steel and the STD 230 engine. A side note, I do not recommend using an XL on the Hunchie - you can if you want, but after the AC20/10/msl/LASORZ (4P) on the hunchies' torsos get blown out, you're dead.

I get what you do, but that still doesn't explain while ONLY shooting my AC20 can overheat it. I also have 3 MLs, but I can't even use them. My AC20 makes me overheat.

[Gremlich Johns]

Deamonition, on 28 April 2013 - 07:10 AM, said:

I get what you do, but that still doesn't explain while ONLY shooting my AC20 can overheat it. I also have 3 MLs, but I can't even use them. My AC20 makes me overheat.

Well then, I cannot explain why that would happen. If I only ever fire my AC20, I never overheat so this seems pretty odd to me as well. (Have you checked the warranty? jk)

I also do not know of anybody else that has had this complaint. Have you tried any other ballistic config to see if it does the same thing?

[Deamonition]

Gremlich Johns, on 28 April 2013 - 07:17 AM, said:

Well then, I cannot explain why that would happen. If I only ever fire my AC20, I never overheat so this seems pretty odd to me as well. (Have you checked the warranty? jk)

I also do not know of anybody else that has had this complaint. Have you tried any other ballistic config to see if it does the same thing?

Well no, I have not. Didn't want to spend money on another configuration.

Perhaps I should report that bug... Weird that it seems I'm the only one having that problem.

[Deamonition]

Just made a test in the Testing Grounds. The problem didn't repeat, so it clearly seems like a bug. I could easily shoot my 3 Mediums and my AC20 on a regular pace

[Gremlich Johns]

great to hear that you are closer to resolution. And did you go into a regular match to see if it happened again?

[Zakie Chan]

Different maps have different effects on your heatscale. Tourmaline is HOT

[Flaregun]

What you haven't mentioned is what your heatsink setup is. What size engine are you running? Do you have double or single heatsinks? Finally how many total heatsinks do you have on your mech?

[skullman86]

Seems like your play style is a big part of the problem IMO. My 4G has a 1.3 efficiency, and while it can run hot (I have a coolshot 6 for emergencies), it's pretty easy to manage by just using hit and run tactics. I only fire multiple rounds in rapid succession when I'm going in for a kill or cornered.

[Kaylos Thex]

The poster sounds like a newer player.

Like Zackie Chan said, different maps have different ambient temperatures.

Tourmaline and Caustic are hot.
Frozen city and Forrest Colony Snow are colder.

For instance, just standing in the crater of the volcano on Caustic puts a mech at 10% heat, and its 3% everywhere else.

[Ph30nix]

check the bold/underline part for the probably reason for differnce.

as said before map temps effect heat sink efficiency also locations on some maps ALSO effect heat efficiency.

For example the cauldera on caustic (where theta is) is the worst area on the map for heat in face if run that map with only 10 SHS (stock light mech) and you over head while in that area your mech can take an INSANELY long time to start up and your heat will not go down while your powered up and moving in that area.

on the flip side being in the water on maps will help your heat alittle as well.

some other things

If your moving your heatsinks are not as efficient its not a huge differnce but its a differnce which can be felt more depending on the map. So firing 4 ML standing still you might be able to chain fire forever, but start moving and you will eventually overheat.

another thing, your atlas probalby has a 300+ engine so it comes with 10 internal heatsinks, if they are DHS then they are true 2x heat sinks as apposed to your hunch which probably has 8 internal heatsinks at 2x and remainders as externals at 1.4

i never put too much stock in that heat efficeny rating. it looks more at your overall weapons and HS count. try removing all weapons from you atlas EXCEPT the 3 ML and 1 AC/20 save it and look at what your heat effficeny changes too.

Edited by Ph30nix, 28 April 2013 - 05:55 PM.

[aniviron]

I run a 4xMLAS 1xAC20back. Here is my input:

There are rumors floating around that the displayed heat efficiency for the ac20 is incorrect. I can't say for sure if it's true, but what I can say is that it does, in fact, generate a LOT of heat for an autocannon.

The thing I can confirm is that because you are running a relatively light mech, you won't have many heat sinks, and while you can cool heat fairly efficiently because you also don't have many weapons, your heat cap will be low as well. (Total heat capacity is based on the number of heat sinks in the mech- even if you have a very heat efficient mech, if you have a small number of heatsinks the time it takes to overheat is much lower than a mech with a worse efficiency and many more heatsinks,)

[Lorcan Lladd]

How many Heat Sinks have you installed on your Hunchback?
Have you already purchased the Double Heat Sink upgrade for that 'Mech?
Are your Elite pilot proficiencies unlocked for both your Atlas and Hunchback, or just for one of them?

The AC/20 generates 6 heat per shot and can be fired every four seconds; I estimate that a BattleMech equipped with 10 Standard Heat Sinks would overheat after firing the AC/20 six or seven times as long as it were completely immobile.
If the 'Mech were moving at full speed, I imagine that it would overheat in the fifth shot.

On the other hand, a 'Mech equipped with 10 Double Heat Sinks can dissipate enough heat to fire a single AC/20 without ever overheating on most maps, disregarding movement.
Caustic and Tourmaline are the exceptions - 'Mechs have to dissipate a lot of ambient heat in these maps and the AC/20 produces a considerable amount of heat...

I have installed two Medium Pulse Lasers (and each produce 5 heat per shot) as well as an AC/20 in my Yen-Lo-Wang yet I don't think it has ever overheated in combat.
However, the 'Mech is equipped with Double Heat Sinks and also benefits from Elite proficiences - which grant 15% extra heat dissipation and capacity.

That's the equivalent of 19 Standard Heat Sinks for a 12 Double Heat Sink build.

Once you've purchased the upgrade and unlocked the 'Mech proficiencies, your Hunchback shouldn't have any problems with heat.

[Cairbre]

One difference that hasn't been mentioned yet is that heat efficiency is based on your heatsink's ability to handle an Alphastrike. Your Atlas has an easier time firing the AC20 than the Hunchback because it has more weapons to bear, so it's 1.07 is a whole heck of a lot cooler than the Hunchback's 1.3. The Hunchback is so focused that it is very easy to overheat it. This encourages the hit and run, suckerpunch style that a medium with a big cannon is most effective doing.

I ran into the same issues when I just indiscriminately fired my AC20 on hot maps- you really need to exercise fire control with that monster when you're on Tourmaline and such maps, which is especially difficult because it takes so long to get into effective range with the Hunch. Best of luck, I hope you figure it out! Don't give up- the Hunchback is an awesome mech.

[Agent 0 Fortune]

You AC20 generates 6 heat everytime if fires. The cooldown for the weapon is 4 seconds. So you can fire the weapon exactly 2.5 times per 10 seconds, for a total of 2.5shots x 6 heat = 15 heat build up every 10 seconds.

A hunchback has 13 heat sinks by default (assuming you didn't upgrade to double heat sinks). that means you cool 13 heat every 10 seconds.

this means you can generate 2 yeat every 10 seconds if you just fire your AC20.

You overheat threshold = 20heat + 13HS = 33. When you reach 33 heat you will shutdown. Now if you generate 2 heat per 10 seconds it will take you 165 seconds of continuous AC20 fire to shut down, which is 66 shots (more than you probably carry).

So you should be able to stand still (not moving), and fire only your AC20, on a heat neutral map, and fire 9 tons of AC20 ammo without overheating.

If that is not the case, you should submit a beta bug report to PGI.

[Zakie Chan]

My Yen-lo Wang runs 1 ac20 and 2 Medium lasers. It has a Standard 250 engine and double heatsinks (none outside of engine, meaning 10 total)

Heat efficiency is 1.54 and I can fire as fast as the recycle time will allow, forever, on all maps except caustic and tourmaline. So like I said, the map is most likely your biggest factor.

With 1.25 efficiency you should be able to fire the ac20 alone for considerable time on the cooler maps. To be rid of the heat issues save up and equip your mech with double heatsinks. (located in the upgrades tab)

Edited by Zakie Chan, 29 April 2013 - 02:00 PM.

[HammerForge]

I think my 4G has a 1.33 HE...I don't know how much ammo you have, but you might think to drop a ton for another DHS. The only maps I have to worry about heat firing the AC20 is Tourmaline and Caustic, and still mainly because you end up using the lasers equally at the range the battles generally take place at. But you shouldn't be in the middle of the furball with the Hunchie, but on the edges flanking, so it is generally easy to disengage for a second to let the heat dissipate.

As for HS not working as well when you are moving around as someone said, that may seem to be the case, but what is actually happening is that you generate heat by moving, so it isn't that they aren't working as well, it's that there is more heat to deal with.