In Oxygen Not Included (ONI), managing resources efficiently is the key to survival and progress. One essential component in a well-designed base is the gas shutoff system, often paired with a gas filter. The ONI gas shutoff filter setup allows players to control the flow of specific gases in their colony, ensuring that unwanted elements are redirected or removed, while vital gases like oxygen are delivered exactly where they are needed. Mastering this system not only improves your colony’s efficiency but also prevents gas contamination, supports automation, and simplifies gas routing throughout your infrastructure.
Understanding the Gas Shutoff Mechanism in ONI
The gas shutoff in Oxygen Not Included is a valve component that acts as a gate for gas flow. It either allows gas to pass through or blocks it entirely, depending on automation signals. It’s a critical part of any filter system that you build and is often used in advanced gas management setups, especially in environments where multiple gas types coexist in pipes or rooms.
How the Gas Shutoff Works
Here’s how the gas shutoff functions in practical terms:
- When receiving a green automation signal, it opens and allows gas to flow through.
- When receiving a red signal, it closes and completely blocks gas movement.
- It consumes a small amount of power (10W) when operating but can greatly streamline gas control.
Used effectively, the gas shutoff becomes the core of many gas filter designs, helping to isolate oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, natural gas, or other substances in your colony’s system.
Building an ONI Gas Shutoff Filter
To create a basic gas filter using the gas shutoff component, you’ll need to understand how to route gas and apply automation. Unlike the gas filter building in ONI (which consumes power constantly and is less flexible), the shutoff-based design is smarter, scalable, and energy-efficient when paired with sensors.
Components Required
To build a simple ONI gas shutoff filter, you will need:
- 1 Gas Shutoff
- 1 Gas Pipe Thermo Sensor (or any other type of sensor, depending on your logic)
- Automation Wire
- Gas Bridges (optional but useful for routing)
- Gas Pipes
How to Assemble the Filter
Below are the steps to assemble a functional gas filter using a shutoff valve:
- Use a gas pipe to bring mixed gases to a gas element sensor or thermo sensor.
- Connect the sensor to the automation input of the gas shutoff.
- When the sensor detects the desired gas (e.g., hydrogen), it sends a green signal to open the shutoff.
- The desired gas passes through and is routed to its destination (e.g., a hydrogen generator).
- All other gases are redirected using gas bridges or alternate piping routes.
This configuration works well for early to mid-game filtration setups and provides a dynamic way to isolate gases without constant power draw or relying on the fixed-functionality of a standard gas filter building.
Advantages of Using a Shutoff-Based Filter
There are multiple reasons to use this type of system instead of the in-game filter building:
- Flexibility: You can change what gas to filter by adjusting the sensor’s settings.
- Efficiency: Uses less power than a dedicated gas filter structure.
- Scalability: Easily expanded for filtering multiple gases.
- Integration: Can be tied to automation systems, storage checks, or power-saving mechanisms.
Many experienced ONI players favor shutoff filters for high-efficiency builds, especially when dealing with volatile gases like chlorine or hydrogen that must be isolated quickly.
Advanced Gas Shutoff Filtering Setups
Once you understand the basics, you can build more sophisticated systems to manage various gases in different situations. These designs are often necessary when dealing with polluted oxygen scrubbers, hydrogen generators, SPOMs (Self-Powered Oxygen Machines), or geysers emitting mixed gases.
Multi-Gas Filtering System
To filter multiple gases using shutoff valves, replicate the basic design multiple times in sequence. Each shutoff will be dedicated to one specific gas type. Arrange them so that if the first shutoff doesn’t open, the gas continues down the line to the next shutoff until it finds a match.
Example:
- Shutoff 1: Filters Hydrogen
- Shutoff 2: Filters Oxygen
- Shutoff 3: Filters Carbon Dioxide
- Remainder goes to a vent or storage area
This layout ensures that every gas is evaluated and sorted according to its properties, allowing precise control and zero waste.
Sensor Options for Automation
The efficiency of the gas shutoff filter depends heavily on the sensor used:
- Gas Element Sensor: Best for targeting a specific gas.
- Thermo Sensor: Filters based on gas temperature useful for heat management setups.
- Atmos Sensor: Used when pressure is the concern (e.g., to avoid over-pressurizing rooms).
Pairing the correct sensor with your gas shutoff ensures optimal behavior depending on your current goals, whether it’s fuel delivery, gas storage, or environmental purification.
Common Use Cases for Gas Shutoff Filters
In an ONI colony, gas shutoff filters can serve a variety of purposes beyond simple filtration. Below are some of the most common use cases:
- Hydrogen Sorting: Extracting hydrogen for SPOM or generator use.
- Chlorine Isolation: Capturing chlorine for use in a sterile room or to avoid contaminating breathable spaces.
- Oxygen Distribution: Ensuring pure oxygen is sent to dupe living quarters or suits.
- Polluted Oxygen Management: Redirecting polluted gases to deodorizers.
- Natural Gas Routing: Delivering gas from a geyser or trapped pockets to a generator or gas reservoir.
By incorporating gas shutoff valves into these systems, players can automate complex behaviors, reduce micromanagement, and ensure that their colonies run smoothly even at high duplicant counts or late-game stress levels.
Tips for Success with Gas Shutoff Filters
To make the most of your shutoff filters in Oxygen Not Included, keep these tips in mind:
- Use insulated gas pipes in hot areas to prevent unwanted heat transfer.
- Use automation bridges to avoid wire clutter and keep logic clear.
- Place sensors in tight gas chambers to isolate the target gas more reliably.
- Always have a fallback pipe for unfiltered gases to avoid pipe backups.
- Test your system with different gases before deploying it in your main base.
The ONI gas shutoff filter is an incredibly versatile and efficient solution for gas management in Oxygen Not Included. By combining gas shutoff valves with the right sensors and automation logic, players can create smart, responsive systems that outperform standard filters in both flexibility and power usage. Whether you’re trying to sort hydrogen from a geyser, maintain breathable oxygen zones, or route carbon dioxide to a rocket engine, the gas shutoff filter will be one of your most valuable tools. With careful planning and experimentation, it becomes a key part of any sustainable ONI colony.