I'm looking to get as up-close and personal as I can with certain hot stellar bodies. As such, I know I'll want to pack plenty of AFMUs and Heatsinks. But I would really prefer to avoid using those if I can.
So, how do I build a ship that runs as cool as possible?
What selection criteria should I use for each module, to ensure that it generates a bare-minimum amount of heat?
Are there certain modules that don't generate heat at all, or specific attributes of a module that can be ignored?
Are there certain ships that naturally run cooler? Is this due to some arbitrary value associated with the specific ship, or is it a general design element of the default build which could be replicated on other ships with proper module selection?
Best Answer
Adding to JWhiteWolfS's answer:
Different ships have drastically different heat characteristics. For example, the Diamondback line of ships run very cool. The Federal Dropship also appears to have good heat management, although it has an abominable jump range.
You can find a table of small ship heat characteristics here:
Additionally, you can reduce your heat buildup by turning off unneeded modules, like weapons, SRV bays, and especially your shields. Shields in particular generate a lot of heat.
In general, the more power a module uses, the more heat it produces. (This only applies to passive heat generation, not e.g. shield cell banks or railguns firing, which produce a lot more heat when used.)