TinyTim917

He is trying to put a steam engine on a obsidian pipe, you cannot put an energy link right to an obsidian pipe.

No you can't use any conductive pipes. You can only put the engine directly beside the energy link. Take a look here http://thetekkit.wikia.com/wiki/Steam_Engine and scroll down and it show you how to hook up 4 steam engines.

The reason for the energy link is to run your steam engine off of your ic2 power. Because when using the energy link you don't need to put fuel in the engine. And in tekkit this is the only way to have a engine use electric power.

Yes you can power a steam engine with an energy link. You need to supply the engine with a Redstone signal and 22eu per tic per engine. Have the steam engine touching the energy link and this will only work with a wooden pipe.