Overview#
Extra Cells 2 (EC2) is the definitive add-on for Applied Energistics 2 (AE2), designed to bridge the gap between item-based digital storage and fluid management. While base AE2 focuses primarily on items, Extra Cells 2 integrates fluids into the network as first-class citizens, allowing them to be stored in specialized cells, monitored via terminals, and used in automated crafting recipes.
Key features include:
- Massive Storage: Item storage cells ranging from 256k to 16,384k and fluid storage cells from 1k to 4,096k.
- Fluid Automation: Machines like the ME Fluid Assembler and Fluid Auto Filler enable complex liquid-based autocrafting.
- Wireless Utility: The Wireless Universal Terminal combines item, fluid, and gas access into a single handheld device.
- Cross-Mod Compatibility: Full support for Mekanism gases and integration with other fluid-handling mods.
Storage Cells and Components#
Extra Cells 2 significantly expands the storage tiers available in AE2. These cells follow the standard AE2 mechanic where higher tiers store more data but are more expensive to craft.
ME Item Storage Cells
These cells are used in an ME Drive or ME Chest to store items. They provide significantly higher capacity than the standard 64k cell.
| Tier | Capacity (Items) | Components Required |
|---|---|---|
| 256k | 262,144 | 3x 64k Components + Processor |
| 1024k | 1,048,576 | 3x 256k Components + Processor |
| 4096k | 4,194,304 | 3x 1024k Components + Processor |
| 16384k | 16,777,216 | 3x 4096k Components + Processor |
ME Fluid Storage Cells
Fluid cells store liquids measured in buckets (1,000 mB). Unlike item cells, fluid cells in EC2 typically store up to 5 different types of fluids per cell.
| Tier | Capacity (Buckets) | Max Fluid Types |
|---|---|---|
| 1k | 1,024 | 5 |
| 4k | 4,096 | 5 |
| 16k | 16,384 | 5 |
| 64k | 65,536 | 5 |
| 256k | 262,144 | 5 |
| 1024k | 1,048,576 | 5 |
| 4096k | 4,194,304 | 5 |
Storage Housings
- Fluid Storage Housing: Used to house Fluid Storage Components. It is visually distinct with blue accents.
- Advanced Storage Housing: A reinforced housing used for the highest tiers of item storage components (256k+).
Network Blocks (Fluid Management)#
These blocks allow the ME Network to interact with fluids in the world or in external containers.
Terminals and Monitors
- ME Fluid Terminal: The primary interface for viewing and interacting with fluids in the network. It features an input slot for empty containers (like buckets) and an output slot for filled ones.
- ME Fluid Storage Monitor: Displays the amount of a specific fluid stored in the network on its face. Right-clicking with a bucket sets the fluid type.
- ME Fluid Conversion Monitor: Functions like the Storage Monitor but allows players to withdraw or deposit fluid directly by clicking the screen with a bucket.
Buses and Planes
- ME Fluid Import Bus: Pulls fluids from an adjacent tank into the ME Network.
- ME Fluid Export Bus: Pushes fluids from the network into an adjacent tank. Can be filtered using buckets or Fluid Patterns.
- ME Fluid Storage Bus: Allows the ME Network to treat an external tank (like a Certus Quartz Tank) as part of its storage.
- ME Fluid Annihilation Plane: Breaks fluid blocks in the world and imports them into the network.
- ME Fluid Formation Plane: Places fluids from the network into the world as blocks.
- ME Fluid Level Emitter: Emits a redstone signal based on the quantity of a specific fluid in the network.
Specialized Machines#
ME Fluid Assembler
The Fluid Assembler is a specialized version of the Molecular Assembler. It is used to automate recipes that require fluid containers (e.g., a Cake recipe requiring Milk Buckets). Instead of needing physical buckets, it pulls the required fluid directly from the ME Network's fluid storage. It does not need to be adjacent to an ME Interface to function.
ME Fluid Auto Filler
This block automates the process of filling containers with fluids. If the network contains empty buckets and water, the Auto Filler can be used to provide "Water Buckets" for autocrafting requests. It can be configured to use different containers, such as IC2 Universal Fluid Cells.
ME Ore Dictionary Export Bus
A highly versatile export bus that filters items based on Ore Dictionary strings. Users can type names like ore* to export all ores, or ingotIron to export only iron ingots. This is essential for sorting systems in large modpacks.
Wireless and Portable Tools#
Wireless Universal Terminal
The ultimate handheld tool for AE2. It can be toggled between several modes:
- Item Mode: Standard Wireless Terminal functionality.
- Fluid Mode: Access to all stored fluids.
- Gas Mode: Access to Mekanism gases (if installed).
- Crafting Mode: Integrated crafting grid (requires Wireless Crafting Terminal mod integration).
ME Portable Fluid Storage
A handheld device that acts like a portable tank and a storage cell. It can be charged and used to pick up or place fluids in the world manually, or inserted into an ME Drive to transfer its contents to the network.
Miscellaneous Blocks#
Certus Quartz Tank
A decorative and functional fluid tank.
- Capacity: 32 Buckets (32,000 mB).
- Stacking: Tanks placed on top of each other form a single multiblock column with shared capacity.
- Portability: If broken with a Wrench (Shift + Right Click), the tank retains its fluid contents.
Blast Resistant ME Drive
A reinforced version of the ME Drive that is immune to explosions (creepers, TNT). It protects the valuable storage cells inside but has a reduced capacity of 3 slots compared to the standard 10.
Walrus:)
A purely decorative block. It is a walrus. It does not move, but it provides a friendly presence in your base. It makes a unique sound when interacted with.
Mechanics and Integration#
Fluid Patterns
ME Fluid Patterns are used to encode fluid-based recipes. By clicking a fluid in the Fluid Terminal with a blank pattern, you create an encoded pattern that tells the ME Network how to handle that specific liquid in automation.
Gas Support
If Mekanism is installed, Extra Cells 2 automatically provides a suite of gas-handling blocks:
- ME Gas Terminal
- ME Gas Import/Export/Storage Buses
- ME Gas Storage Cells (1k to 4096k)
- Wireless Gas Terminal
Energy Consumption
Extra Cells 2 components consume AE power (AE/t) like standard AE2 parts. Wireless terminals require charging in an ME Charger or compatible energy cell and must be linked to an ME Security Terminal to function across the network.
