Alternator

Alternator
Identifier:	West 3-Δ1
Area:	High Plain
Puzzle Type:	Lost
Previous Puzzle:	Photon Sail
Next Puzzle:	Hexahedral Stacking

Alternator is a lost puzzle in the High Plain area of The Talos Principle 2.

Puzzle elements

• Blue door
• Connector
• Emitter
• Purple barrier
• Receiver

Overview

When you enter the puzzle, you find yourself in a small room.

• There is a blue emitter on the far wall, and a red emitter on the entrance wall.
• Two connectors are available nearby.
• There is a low grate door that is continuously moving up and down in the middle of the room.
• To the right is a corridor with three divisions that leads to the progress wheel, each blocked off by a blue door. The first door is controlled by a blue receiver outside, and the second by a red receiver outside.
• A purple barrier allows you to go to the first division, and the last division leads directly to the progress wheel.

Hints

A basic hint:

[ hint ]

Since the name of the puzzle is Alternator, you have to set up the puzzle in such a way that it alternates between opening one of the doors and then the other door.

Rules of connectors:

[ hint ]

Remember always that a connector that is fed directly by emitters of two different colors does not produce any light at all. However, a connector that is connected to an emitter directly and another active connector of a different color will produce laser of the color of the emitter. The laser between the two connectors will meet halfway and will not interfere with the working of either.

If you're struggling with intersecting lasers:

[ hint ]

That is the main challenge of this puzzle. Experiment with various configurations, including thinking of ways where intersecting lasers might help you.

If you think there are too few barriers:

[ hint ]

Notice that you can interrupt a laser by creating a connection that intersects with it. If you need to interrupt one of the lasers, that might be a valid strategy.

Solution

[ solution ]

• 
  Configure your equipment like so. When the barrier is lowered, the connector on the left becomes inactive because it is connected directly to two different colored emitters. So the connector on the right produces blue lasers.
• 
  After the barrier goes up, the connector on the left is connected only to a red emitter. So it interrupts the blue laser from the blue emitter from reaching the right connector. This allows the right connector to remain active and activate the red receiver.