I now have IC2 , Ender IO, Forestry and Thermal Expansion all working together nicely under the latest Resonant Rise release using no additional modpacks (just a texture pack).
The main thing is to realize that while you may not be able to centralize your power grid and power various major mod devices with it, you can still centralize your storage and item sorting and movement system across various major mods. Essentially you pick one mod for your main power, and then standardize your item transfer using Ender IO conduits as needed. You don’t need to ditch any one of those three or four mods; they’re all probably necessary and important for different things.
My current build relies on IC2 for a power grid and for ore processing, and on Ender IO and IC2 for item movement and sorting. Both mods offer features that specifically benefit the other; such a good match and both also benefit from Immersive Engineering. With just these three mods you can accomplish a lot.
Now I’m starting to introduce Forestry and Thermal Expansion. While the devices (generators, furnaces, etc.) are not compatible with their other power systems, they can still be connect to an Ender IO based item/sorting grid, which is huge, even if you will also probably want a secondary power grid for specialized devices. It’s my hope that I’ll be able to incorporate the new stuff into my current setup without too much trouble.
Some screenshots of the current build after hitting a huge milestone with a large mining operation and item sorting system.
Simple compound. Only Dryads and Endermen tend to wander in.
View of the roof. Power is comprised of 18 Advanced Solar Panels and 10 Wind Mills which feed into two MFEs. (Second pass on roof, plan to make it prettier soon if I have time.)
The MFEs, on the upper floor, feed into a series of transformers and Batboxes before supplying devices
Upper level is where all the power management and item sorting takes place. Lower level is still a work in progress, but it’s a functional item intake and storage area.
Upper level, where all the item sorting and ore/crystal processing takes place. Items generally first hit the 6 Macerators you see to the left, which then feed to Electric Furnaces, which then feed into the sorting system.
It’s all automatic and everything pretty much ends up where it needs to end up. Some items even get pushed downstairs to another storage area.
First level, which is still being overhauled. The chest to the right of the stairs is the central intake chest. It exports anything it receives into a chest upstairs, and also receives from an Ender IO Dimensional Transceiver. At a couple of remote mining operations, I have two other transceivers connected to this one.
This (the lower) area is where I plan to start installing a Forestry and Thermal Expansion device array (and basic power system).
Oh and here’s one of two remote mining operations I have going. IC2 for the mining (and it’s power requirements), Ender IO for moving the items back to base.
This one I deployed at around the 30 mark, so it will stop when it eats through 30 64x64 levels and hits bedrock. There’s a crude Nuclear Power grid, an Advanced Minor, a bunch of chests and, not really visible, the Dimensional Transceiver that sends everything back to base.
Edit: Oh, here’s the reactor arrangement (took a lot of trial and error):
