You can undertake the Starfield Tapping the Grid quest in New Atlantis. This quest is given to you by Louisa Reyez who wants you to solve a power crisis problem in the city. This quest has many similarities to the ‘Treatment’ NPC quest from Fallout 3. Instead of fixing the plumbing though, here you need to fix the wiring.
This is a fairly easy quest but is a bit of a grind especially the part where you have to traverse the entirety of a location hunting down Electrical Panels.
How to start the Starfield Tapping the Grid quest
This is an NPC quest, so you’ll need to seek it out yourself. Once you’ve reached New Atlantis City on Jemison, head to a location called the Well which can be found almost in the middle of the city. Once in the Well, look for Louisa Reyes who can usually be found near the medbay. Interacting with her will reveal that the Well has been facing brownouts due to a power drain.
You can offer to help her with the issue and this will immediately start the quest ‘Tapping the Grid’.
Starfield Tapping the Grid quest: Locate the junction boxes in the Well
The Starfield Tapping the Grid quest primarily involves locating five junction boxes and deactivating them. This is easier said than done though since the boxes themselves are quite difficult to find given the vastness of the area. Then there is the second part of the quest which involves solving a puzzle.
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The first Junction box that you need to deactivate is fairly easy to spot. It can be found near the exit through which you enter the Well. You can find it on a wall next to a door between the two tanks there.
The second junction box as Louisa mentions will require a bit of a hike. You need to head through the corridor by the Security office and head right to the Staircase on the far left near the blocked ‘Secure Access’ door. From here, you can head upstairs and unlock the ‘Automatic Door’ manually by flipping the switch next to it. You need to keep to the left and find yet another one of those doors which will eventually lead you to a folding door on the left just as you head up the stairs. The second box is safely secured inside.
Head back down through the first automatic door and take the first staircase that leads you to the floor below. The third junction box is right next to Jake’s shop near the graffiti in the corner.
Starfield Tapping the Grid quest: Last junction box and puzzle
This is the last part before you are done with the Starfield Tapping the Grid quest.
Head back up the staircase this time through the first automatic door and take the first staircase to the left of the guarded door. Again keep to the left as you pass through a sliding door to the room with the four electrical panels. The last junction box is beyond the locked sliding door. But to access it, you’ll need to unlock the door by activating the panels in a particular order.
Here is the order in which you need to activate the panels: 1-3-4-1. Don’t activate the 2nd panel.
Once you’ve got the right combination the door unlocks and you can power down the last panel. You can now head back to Louisa and either ask her for a reward for completing the Starfield Tapping the Grid quest or just tell her that you are happy to help.
She will then give you the choice of joining her on her quest to take on the Trade Authority. Accepting her offer will activate the quest ‘Alternating Currents’.
