Check the refinery's actual power and look for processed output before trusting its sound or animation. In a September playtest build, a refinery could look active on a depowered station. The developer fixed that misleading behavior in the September 21 patch.
Start with an output test
Give the refinery a small amount of the expected ore, then watch whether a processed batch appears. If the machine appears to run without consuming input, check the station's power state before changing its belts.
Trace the feed and the destination
Once power is present, follow the ore to the refinery and follow the output to wherever it should go next. If one handoff fails, test that connection in isolation. That makes it easier to distinguish a refinery problem from a supply problem.
Check which version you are running
The sound and animation fix was documented for the September playtest. If your current build behaves differently, record the station state, input and output behavior, and build when you report the issue.
See Main Sequence's official Steam update feed for the official game information.
FAQ
Can refinery sound prove the machine has power?
No. The September playtest bug could produce sound and animation while the station was depowered.
What should I check before rebuilding?
Verify power, then observe whether the expected ore reaches the refinery and whether a processed batch leaves it.
Does the September patch explain every refinery problem?
It addresses a specific visual and audio symptom. Other failures still need an input, output, and power check.