diff --git a/technic/machines/HV/forcefield.lua b/technic/machines/HV/forcefield.lua
index 29c023d..d3bc984 100644
--- a/technic/machines/HV/forcefield.lua
+++ b/technic/machines/HV/forcefield.lua
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ end)
 --   \___/\___/
 
 local function update_forcefield(pos, meta, active)
+
+	if active then
+		-- rate limit by chance
+		if math.floor(math.random()*4) ~= 0 then
+			return
+		end
+	end
+
 	local shape = meta:get_int("shape")
 	local range = meta:get_int("range")
 	local vm = VoxelManip()
@@ -374,4 +382,3 @@ end
 
 technic.register_machine("HV", "technic:forcefield_emitter_on",  technic.receiver)
 technic.register_machine("HV", "technic:forcefield_emitter_off", technic.receiver)
-
diff --git a/technic/machines/switching_station.lua b/technic/machines/switching_station.lua
index 47d4fe8..ff4665e 100644
--- a/technic/machines/switching_station.lua
+++ b/technic/machines/switching_station.lua
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ end
 minetest.register_abm({
 	nodenames = {"technic:switching_station"},
 	label = "Switching Station", -- allows the mtt profiler to profile this abm individually
-	interval   = 1,
+	interval   = 1.1,
 	chance     = 1,
 	action = function(pos, node, active_object_count, active_object_count_wider)
 		if not technic.powerctrl_state then return end
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ end
 minetest.register_abm({
 	label = "Machines: timeout check",
 	nodenames = {"group:technic_machine"},
-	interval   = 1,
+	interval   = 1.9,
 	chance     = 3,
 	action = function(pos, node, active_object_count, active_object_count_wider)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)