diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
index c44ab970b9f..643df226f1d 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
@@ -1482,6 +1482,10 @@
 /// Called when the integrated circuit is locked.
 #define COMSIG_CIRCUIT_SET_LOCKED "circuit_set_locked"
 
+/// Called before power is used in an integrated circuit (power_to_use)
+#define COMSIG_CIRCUIT_PRE_POWER_USAGE "circuit_pre_power_usage"
+	#define COMPONENT_OVERRIDE_POWER_USAGE (1<<0)
+
 /// Called right before the integrated circuit data is converted to json. Allows modification to the data right before it is returned.
 #define COMSIG_CIRCUIT_PRE_SAVE_TO_JSON "circuit_pre_save_to_json"
 
diff --git a/code/datums/components/shell.dm b/code/datums/components/shell.dm
index b3ce2396949..ebe99cd4c2e 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/shell.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/shell.dm
@@ -14,8 +14,19 @@
 	/// A list of components that cannot be removed
 	var/list/obj/item/circuit_component/unremovable_circuit_components
 
+	/// Whether the shell is locked or not
 	var/locked = FALSE
 
+	// The variables below are used only for anchored shells
+	/// The amount of power used in the last minute
+	var/power_used_in_minute = 0
+
+	/// The cooldown time to reset the power_used_in_minute to 0
+	COOLDOWN_DECLARE(power_used_cooldown)
+
+	/// The maximum power that the shell can use in a minute before entering overheating and destroying itself.
+	var/max_power_use_in_minute = 20000
+
 /datum/component/shell/Initialize(unremovable_circuit_components, capacity, shell_flags, starting_circuit)
 	. = ..()
 	if(!ismovable(parent))
@@ -119,12 +130,16 @@
 	examine_text += span_notice("The cover panel to the integrated circuit is [locked? "locked" : "unlocked"].")
 	var/obj/item/stock_parts/cell/cell = attached_circuit.cell
 	examine_text += span_notice("The charge meter reads [cell ? round(cell.percent(), 1) : 0]%.")
-	if((shell_flags & SHELL_FLAG_REQUIRE_ANCHOR) && !source.anchored)
-		examine_text += span_notice("The integrated circuit is non-functional whilst the shell is unanchored.")
 
 	if (shell_flags & SHELL_FLAG_USB_PORT)
 		examine_text += span_notice("There is a <b>USB port</b> on the front.")
 
+	if(shell_flags & SHELL_FLAG_REQUIRE_ANCHOR)
+		examine_text += span_notice("The shell does not require a battery to function and will draw from the area's APC whenever possible.")
+		if(!source.anchored)
+			examine_text += span_danger("<b>The integrated circuit is non-functional whilst the shell is unanchored.</b>")
+
+
 /**
  * Called when the shell is anchored.
  *
@@ -256,6 +271,24 @@
 		source.balloon_alert(user, "it won't fit!")
 		return COMPONENT_CANCEL_ADD_COMPONENT
 
+/datum/component/shell/proc/override_power_usage(datum/source, power_to_use)
+	SIGNAL_HANDLER
+	if(COOLDOWN_FINISHED(src, power_used_cooldown))
+		power_used_in_minute = 0
+
+	var/area/location = get_area(parent)
+	if(!location.powered(AREA_USAGE_EQUIP))
+		return
+
+	if(power_used_in_minute > max_power_use_in_minute)
+		explosion(parent, light_impact_range = 1, explosion_cause = attached_circuit)
+		remove_circuit()
+		return
+	location.use_power(power_to_use, AREA_USAGE_EQUIP)
+	power_used_in_minute += power_to_use
+	COOLDOWN_START(src, power_used_cooldown, 1 MINUTES)
+	return COMPONENT_OVERRIDE_POWER_USAGE
+
 /**
  * Attaches a circuit to the parent. Doesn't do any checks to see for any existing circuits so that should be done beforehand.
  */
@@ -267,6 +300,8 @@
 	attached_circuit = circuitboard
 	if(!(shell_flags & SHELL_FLAG_CIRCUIT_FIXED) && !circuitboard.admin_only)
 		RegisterSignal(circuitboard, COMSIG_MOVABLE_MOVED, .proc/on_circuit_moved)
+	if(shell_flags & SHELL_FLAG_REQUIRE_ANCHOR)
+		RegisterSignal(circuitboard, COMSIG_CIRCUIT_PRE_POWER_USAGE, .proc/override_power_usage)
 	RegisterSignal(circuitboard, COMSIG_PARENT_QDELETING, .proc/on_circuit_delete)
 	for(var/obj/item/circuit_component/to_add as anything in unremovable_circuit_components)
 		to_add.forceMove(attached_circuit)
@@ -295,6 +330,7 @@
 		COMSIG_MOVABLE_MOVED,
 		COMSIG_PARENT_QDELETING,
 		COMSIG_CIRCUIT_ADD_COMPONENT_MANUALLY,
+		COMSIG_CIRCUIT_PRE_POWER_USAGE,
 	))
 	if(attached_circuit.loc == parent || (!QDELETED(attached_circuit) && attached_circuit.loc == null))
 		var/atom/parent_atom = parent
diff --git a/code/modules/wiremod/core/component.dm b/code/modules/wiremod/core/component.dm
index 7b67b413d8b..41e9ee88abf 100644
--- a/code/modules/wiremod/core/component.dm
+++ b/code/modules/wiremod/core/component.dm
@@ -262,9 +262,11 @@
 			message_admins("[display_name] tried to execute on [parent.get_creator_admin()] that has admin_only set to 0")
 			return FALSE
 
-		var/obj/item/stock_parts/cell/cell = parent.get_cell()
-		if(!cell?.use(power_usage_per_input))
-			return FALSE
+		var/flags = SEND_SIGNAL(parent, COMSIG_CIRCUIT_PRE_POWER_USAGE, power_usage_per_input)
+		if(!(flags & COMPONENT_OVERRIDE_POWER_USAGE))
+			var/obj/item/stock_parts/cell/cell = parent.get_cell()
+			if(!cell?.use(power_usage_per_input))
+				return FALSE
 
 	if((!port || port.trigger == .proc/input_received) && (circuit_flags & CIRCUIT_FLAG_INPUT_SIGNAL) && !COMPONENT_TRIGGERED_BY(trigger_input, port))
 		return FALSE
diff --git a/code/modules/wiremod/shell/airlock.dm b/code/modules/wiremod/shell/airlock.dm
index 9b77dde27fe..81437a1ff3b 100644
--- a/code/modules/wiremod/shell/airlock.dm
+++ b/code/modules/wiremod/shell/airlock.dm
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 		/datum/component/shell, \
 		unremovable_circuit_components = list(new /obj/item/circuit_component/airlock, new /obj/item/circuit_component/airlock_access_event), \
 		capacity = SHELL_CAPACITY_LARGE, \
-		shell_flags = SHELL_FLAG_ALLOW_FAILURE_ACTION \
+		shell_flags = SHELL_FLAG_ALLOW_FAILURE_ACTION|SHELL_FLAG_REQUIRE_ANCHOR \
 	)
 
 /obj/machinery/door/airlock/shell/check_access(obj/item/I)