diff --git a/mesecons/services.lua b/mesecons/services.lua
index b1388ec2..5f823e02 100644
--- a/mesecons/services.lua
+++ b/mesecons/services.lua
@@ -74,9 +74,16 @@ minetest.register_on_placenode(mesecon.on_placenode)
 minetest.register_on_dignode(mesecon.on_dignode)
 
 -- Overheating service for fast circuits
-local OVERHEAT_MAX = mesecon.setting("overheat_max", 20)
-local COOLDOWN_TIME = mesecon.setting("cooldown_time", 2.0)
-local COOLDOWN_STEP = mesecon.setting("cooldown_granularity", 0.5)
+local OVERHEAT_MAX = math.max(1.0, mesecon.setting("overheat_max", 20.0))
+local COOLDOWN_MODE = mesecon.setting("cooldown_mode", "steps")
+local COOLDOWN_IN_STEPS = COOLDOWN_MODE == "steps"
+-- default for steps assumes a dtime of 0.016 seconds
+local COOLDOWN_TIME = math.max(0.0, COOLDOWN_IN_STEPS and
+		mesecon.setting("cooldown_time_steps", 125.0) or
+		mesecon.setting("cooldown_time", 2.0))
+local COOLDOWN_STEP = math.max(0.0, COOLDOWN_IN_STEPS and
+		mesecon.setting("cooldown_granularity_steps", 20) or
+		mesecon.setting("cooldown_granularity", 0.5))
 local COOLDOWN_MULTIPLIER = OVERHEAT_MAX / COOLDOWN_TIME
 local cooldown_timer = 0.0
 local object_heat = {}
@@ -118,7 +125,7 @@ function mesecon.move_hot_nodes(moved_nodes)
 end
 
 local function global_cooldown(dtime)
-	cooldown_timer = cooldown_timer + dtime
+	cooldown_timer = cooldown_timer + (COOLDOWN_IN_STEPS and 1 or dtime)
 	if cooldown_timer < COOLDOWN_STEP then
 		return -- don't overload the CPU
 	end
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 56274400..e270320a 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,37 @@
 [mesecons]
 
+# Number of seconds to wait after server start before starting to execute actions
+# from the actionqueue.
 mesecon.resumetime (Startup delay) int 4 1 10
-mesecon.overheat_max (Device heat limit) int 20 1 100
-mesecon.cooldown_time (Device cooldown time) float 2.0 0.1 10.0
-mesecon.cooldown_granularity (Cooldown step length) float 0.5 0.0 1.0
+
+# Heat at which a device overheats.
+# As a rule of thumb, a device gets 1 additional heat each time when it toggles.
+mesecon.overheat_max (Device heat limit) float 20.0 1.0
+
+# The method used to cooldown devices over time:
+# - seconds: The cooldown will happen per seconds.
+#   Use mesecon.cooldown_time and mesecon.cooldown_granularity for further configuration.
+# - steps: The cooldown will happen per server steps.
+#   Use mesecon.cooldown_time_steps and mesecon.cooldown_granularity_steps for further configuration.
+mesecon.cooldown_mode (Device cooldown mode) enum steps seconds,steps
+
+# The time in seconds it takes for a device to fully cool down from max heat.
+# Only used if mesecon.cooldown_mode is seconds.
+mesecon.cooldown_time (Device cooldown time in seconds) float 2.0 0.0
+
+# Length in seconds of the interval in which devices are cooled down over time.
+# This does not affect the cooldown speed.
+# Only used if mesecon.cooldown_mode is seconds.
+mesecon.cooldown_granularity (Cooldown step length in seconds) float 0.5 0.0
+
+# The time in server steps it takes for a device to fully cool down from max heat.
+# Only used if mesecon.cooldown_mode is steps.
+mesecon.cooldown_time_steps (Device cooldown time in server steps) float 125.0 0.0
+
+# Length in server steps of the interval in which devices are cooled down over time.
+# This does not affect the cooldown speed.
+# Only used if mesecon.cooldown_mode is steps.
+mesecon.cooldown_granularity_steps (Cooldown step length in server steps) int 20 0
 
 
 [mesecons_blinkyplant]