Power
Solar Panels in The Last Caretaker: LumiLite, LumiMid and LumiMax
Data Status
Checked October 2026 against Early Access 0.8.5 for unlock tiers and recipes (B). Sun tracking and Medium Battery capacity are also cross-checked (B). Solar output figures conflict across screens, player reports and the wiki (C); Small Battery capacity remains disputed (C). Bulk Battery capacity is also disputed, with each reading graded separately below.
Start with the panel you can unlock and the parts you can supply. This comparison separates verified tiers, recipes and sun tracking from output figures that still need confirmation.
The three solar panels
Tiers, recipes and sun tracking agree across the community wiki and the community item listing (B).
| Panel | Unlock tier (B) | Recipe (B) | Tracks the sun (B) | What the sources show (conflicting, C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LumiLite | Tier 2 |
| No — fixed panel | Build card: Production 3.0 kW. Live readings: 0.8 kW and 0.5 kW. Wiki: 900 Wh. These sources conflict. Player reports, not yet verified (C). Sources: Community wiki · UnkemptGamer, around October 1, 2026 (7:01) · NoFastTravelling, around September 2026 (31:57) |
| LumiMid | Tier 6 |
| Yes — turns toward the sun | Live reading: 4.2 kW. Player report: 3–4 kW. Wiki: 4000 Wh or 1 kW. The build card was not captured; these sources conflict. Player reports, not yet verified (C). Sources: Community wiki · NoFastTravelling, around September 2026 (33:39) · Steam: panel output reports, September 29, 2026 |
| LumiMax | Tier 13 |
| Yes — turns toward the sun | Wiki: 8000 Wh or 2 kW. Players report 10 kW in the build menu and about 7 kW in use. No screen was captured; these sources conflict. Player reports, not yet verified (C). Sources: Community wiki · Steam: panel output reports, September 29, 2026 · Steam: LumiMax output reports, September 13, 2026 |
Output readings depend on sunlight and in-game time. The weather and in-game time for these recordings were not established, and the source figures and units do not agree. Player reports, not yet verified (C).
These figures are not a basis for sizing a power grid or ranking the panels by output.
Sources: Community wiki · Community item listing — data labeled 0.8.5
Sources: Community wiki · Community item listing — data labeled 0.8.5
Sources: Community wiki · Community item listing — data labeled 0.8.5
Which one to build first
LumiLite is the earliest solar unlock, at Tier 2, and uses a fixed panel. If you want a panel that turns to follow the sun, LumiMid unlocks at Tier 6; LumiMax follows at Tier 13. Compare their recipes above to see which parts you need.
Use the Skill Tree Planner to check the unlocks available at your level.
Solar at night and other power sources
Solar output is weak at night. Pair panels with wind turbines, batteries or a petrol generator.
Sources: Steam discussion 1 · Steam discussion 2
Wind turbines (B)
- Whisper — Tier 3
- Cyclone — Tier 8
- Typhoon — Tier 14
Petrol generators (B)
- Portable Electric Generator — Tier 5
- Large Electric Generator — Tier 15
Battery unlock tiers (B)
- Small Battery — Tier 3
- Medium Battery — Tier 8
- Bulk Battery — Tier 24
Sources: Wiki Crafting table — skill unlock tiers, revision 6776 · Community item listing — data labeled 0.8.5
Portable Electric Generator and Large Electric Generator both burn petrol. The fuel and gases guide explains the fuel chain.
Sources: Community wiki · Community item listing · Large Electric Generator — community wiki · Community item listing
Battery capacity
Medium Battery stores 6.0 kWh. (B)
Sources: Red Lichtie Games, around September 23, 2026 (15:26) · J-Dub Gaming, September 16, 2026 (3:36)
Small Battery capacity is disputed: a July 7, 2026 build card shows 2.0 kWh, while a July 24, 2026 screen and the wiki show 500 Wh. Neither capacity is treated as confirmed here. Player reports, not yet verified (C).
Sources: Raschuk, July 7, 2026 (0:30) · Acure8, July 24, 2026, version 0.7.0 (10:05) · Community wiki
Bulk Battery capacity remains disputed. Skill cards and the September 5, 2026 official stream show the lower reading; Durandian’s September 3 crafting screen and J-Dub Gaming’s September 16 placed-battery screen agree on the higher reading. Neither is selected as the current capacity.
- 18.0 kWh (A) — Skill cards; official stream agrees on September 5, 2026
- 20.0 kWh (B) — Crafting screen (September 3) and placed battery (September 16)
Sources: J-Dub Gaming, September 16, 2026 (0:44) · Bulk Battery skill card (Update 5.5, 0.8.5.650920) · Official developer stream — 23:29 · J-Dub Gaming — test build 0.5.5.0020 skill panels, 4:08–4:53 · Durandian — crafting panels, 9:56–10:10
Powering the Lazarus racks
The downstairs wall sockets do not power the Lazarus racks. Repair the broken solar panels and wind turbines on the roof or balcony, then run Electric Cable down the elevator shaft with extenders to reach the racks. Cross-checked (B).
See the Lazarus Complex guide for the rack setup and human-growing requirements.
Sources: Steam discussion 1 · Aziwrath Gaming, January 2026 (0:07)
Wiring
Each Electric Cable section can span up to 20 m. Extenders join cable sections and let a connection branch to other destinations. Cross-checked (B).
Enter your route distance in the Power Grid & Cable Calculator, then use the power grid setup guide for routing.
Cable evidence was checked on 2026-10-06; the source footage and reports predate Update 5.5.
Solar panel FAQ
How much energy does a Medium Battery store?
Medium Battery stores 6.0 kWh. (B)
Which solar panel unlocks first in The Last Caretaker?
LumiLite unlocks first, at Tier 2. (B)
Which solar panels track the sun?
LumiMid (Tier 6) and LumiMax (Tier 13) turn to follow the sun; LumiLite is a fixed panel. (B)
Do solar panels work at night?
Solar output is weak at night, so pair panels with wind turbines, batteries or a petrol generator. (B)
How much power do the solar panels produce?
The build-card, live-screen and wiki figures conflict. Check the source comparison above; the recordings do not establish the sunlight or in-game time. These readings cannot confirm a panel ranking or size a power grid. Player reports, not yet verified (C).
