This alternate application of the particle accelerator creates a ball of energy within a containment field, and uses tesla coils to attract bolts of lightning from that energy ball in order to produce power. It works similarly to the singularity engine.
The Tesla engine creates an ionizing point in space that gradually builds into a giant ball of incandescent energy that regularly regurgitates power in the form of electric arcs. These arcs can be partially captured by Tesla generators, and will generally flow along the most conductive/least resisting path. Metal structures are prime targets for its strikes, and grounding rods are the safest target there is, drawing arcs to themselves and subsequently dissipating them harmlessly. The latter are regularly used to direct lightning through tesla generators, and are best deployed between the engine and anything you hold dear. Under no circumstances should the Tesla ball be allowed to become free-roaming, as it can quickly annihilate machinery or crew.
The tesla generator works just like the singularity generator does, except that it makes an energy ball.
This big floaty ball of pure electricity can only be contained by the containment field. When you shoot the energy ball with the Particle Accelerator, it gains energy like a singularity, but when it hits 300 energy, it generates a mini-energy ball that orbits the big energy ball. This will send off an extra shock when the energy ball pulses, and this can happen as many times as you let it. The energy ball will also naturally generate small amounts of energy, so eventually a second ball will form.
Be warned, the more mini-balls the energy ball has, the more shocks it sends out at once, and the further it can travel each move. A good engineer can use this to generate lots of power, and a bad one can abuse this to murder the entire vessel.
An energy ball will shoot bolts of electricity off at conductors, which it prioritizes in this order:
It will also strike the closest distance-wise of the list after it goes through these criteria.
Tesla Coils will attract the bolts. They will take half the power of the bolt (if they are connected to a powernet), pump it into the powernet it is hooked to, and then will send the other half of the power to the next available conductor, which follows the criteria listed above. Preferably, this will be another coil to harness more of the power and pump it into the grid.
Grounding Rods are safety precautions to prevent the tesla bolts from hitting machinery or personnel. If the Tesla is loose, being near one will usually keep you safe from direct shocks. It does NOT, however, protect youfrom dusting if you touch the core or from the explosions caused by machinery.
Step 1: Wrench down loose parts: Grounding Rods and Tesla Coils.
Step 2: Take out the singularity generator. IMPORTANT! YOU DO NOT WANT BOTH THE SINGULO AND THE TESLA LOOSE!
Step 3: Turn on the emitters; don't get hit by the beams. Do this before step 4.
Step 3.5: Use your ID on the emitters to lock them and prevent tampering.
Step 4: Turn on all the shield generators. Wait for them to turn on before continuing to the next step!
Step 5: Set up the Particle Accelerator, in the same way you would with the singularity engine.
Step 6: Turn on the Particle Accelerator. You can either keep it on 2 or turn it to 0; leaving it on will not cause the Tesla to go loose by itself, but it will make it more powerful and destructive if it does.
At this point the Tesla is set up; keep an eye on the containment once in a while to make sure nobody sets it loose.
If the Energy Ball is to get out of containment somehow, it will pass through walls, windows, and anything else in its quest to destroy everything and everyone. It will shoot electricity at conductors, mobs, etc, and direct bolts from the Energy Ball will instantly kill a spaceman; you can protect yourself partially with either insulated gloves or a hardsuit, while wearing both will make you (mostly) immune to electric bolts. Being hit by the ball itself will turn you into a pile of dust regardless of protection. Any piece of electronics, such as consoles, machines, or airlocks, will violently explode when hit, causing vast damage to the station.
The Energy Ball usually moves towards the last direction it shocked, which means that it will actively seek areas with more machines and conductive materials.