TRAPPED CHEST
A chest that outputs a redstone signal proportional to the number of players viewing it. Signal strength equals the number of players with the chest open, up to 15.
Crafting Recipe
1 Chest + 1 Tripwire Hook → 1 Trapped Chest
Signal Behavior
Input
InputPlayers opening the chest
Output
OutputSignal strength = number of players viewing
Max Signal Strength
Max Signal Strength15
Delay
DelayInstant on open, slight delay on close
Modes
- Analog signal based on viewer count
Overview: what the Trapped Chest is and does
A chest that outputs a redstone signal proportional to the number of players viewing it. Signal strength equals the number of players with the chest open, up to 15.
As a trigger it watches the world for an event and converts that event into a redstone signal. It is a chest that doubles as a player sensor, perfect for loot traps and secret-room triggers.
The Trapped Chest was added to Minecraft in 1.5 and everything described here reflects its behaviour in Java Edition 1.21.
How it works: the redstone mechanics
On the input side, players opening the chest. On the output side, signal strength = number of players viewing.
Its output equals the number of players currently viewing it, so one player gives signal 1 and the signal scales up with viewers to a cap of 15. It looks almost identical to a normal chest apart from a faint red tint on the latch. The signal lasts only while the chest GUI is open.
It acts instantly with no redstone-tick delay of its own, so it adds nothing to the timing of a circuit.
It can output a maximum signal strength of 15, which travels 15 blocks through bare redstone dust before fading to nothing.
It operates in the following modes: analog signal based on viewer count.
How to set it up
- 1Craft the Trapped Chest: 1 Chest + 1 Tripwire Hook → 1 Trapped Chest.
- 2Decide where the signal needs to start or land, then place the Trapped Chest against a solid surface so it can see the event you want to detect.
- 3Lead the signal it produces into a repeater or dust line so the rest of your contraption can respond to the detected event.
- 4Test in a creative-mode plot first: trigger the input and confirm the Trapped Chest behaves exactly as the timing above predicts before committing it to a survival build.
Uses & applications
- ▸Player traps
- ▸Secret room triggers
- ▸Player counting
- ▸Security systems
Tips & common mistakes
- !Looks similar to regular chest (slight red tint)
- !Can be placed next to regular chests
- !Signal only while chest is open
- !Because the signal is just 1 for a single player, drive a comparator or repeater off it rather than expecting a strong 15.
Trapped Chest FAQ
What is the Trapped Chest used for in Minecraft redstone?
The Trapped Chest is most often used for player traps, secret room triggers, player counting, and security systems. As a trigger it watches the world for an event and converts that event into a redstone signal.
What signal strength does the Trapped Chest output?
Signal strength = number of players viewing. Its maximum signal strength is 15.
How do you craft the Trapped Chest?
1 Chest + 1 Tripwire Hook → 1 Trapped Chest. It was introduced in 1.5.
What is the most common mistake with the Trapped Chest?
Looks similar to regular chest (slight red tint). Can be placed next to regular chests.