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REDSTONE COMPONENTS

Every redstone component in Minecraft. Signal behavior, crafting, uses, and common mistakes.

Power Sources

Blocks that generate redstone signals on their own or through player interaction.

Redstone Torch

A torch that emits a constant redstone signal of 15. Can be inverted (turned off) by powering the block it is attached to. Fundamental building block for NOT gates and memory circuits.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.1

Block of Redstone

A solid block that provides a constant redstone signal of 15 in all directions. Can be pushed by pistons, making it essential for movable power sources in flying machines and piston circuits.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.5

Lever

A switch that outputs a constant redstone signal of 15 when flipped ON. Toggle-based, stays in its current state until flipped again. Attaches to any solid surface.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.1

Stone Button

A momentary switch that emits a redstone pulse of 15 for 10 redstone ticks (1 second) when pressed. Cannot be activated by arrows.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.1

Wooden Button

A momentary switch that emits a redstone pulse of 15 for 15 redstone ticks (1.5 seconds). Can be activated by arrows, making it useful for arrow-triggered mechanisms.

Max signal: 15Added: Beta 1.6

Stone Pressure Plate

Outputs signal strength 15 when a player or mob stands on it. Does not detect items or arrows. Deactivates when the entity steps off.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.1

Wooden Pressure Plate

Outputs signal strength 15 when any entity, dropped item, or arrow lands on it. More sensitive than stone pressure plates.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.1

Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate

An iron pressure plate that outputs signal strength based on the number of entities on it. Every 10 entities adds 1 signal strength, up to 15. Used for entity counting.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.5

Light Weighted Pressure Plate

A gold pressure plate that outputs signal strength based on entity count. Each entity adds 1 signal strength, up to 15. More sensitive than the heavy variant.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.5

Daylight Detector

Outputs a redstone signal proportional to the current sunlight level. Can be inverted (right-click) to output based on darkness. Signal ranges from 0 to 15 depending on time of day.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.5

Tripwire Hook

Placed in pairs with string between them. Outputs signal strength 15 when an entity passes through the string. Can span up to 40 blocks.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.3.1

Sculk Sensor

A wireless redstone component that detects vibrations (footsteps, block placement, etc.) within a 9-block radius and outputs a redstone signal. Different vibrations produce different signal strengths.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.19

Calibrated Sculk Sensor

A sculk sensor with an amethyst shard filter. Accepts a redstone signal input to filter which vibration frequencies it detects. Only triggers on the specified frequency.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.20

Transmission

Blocks and items that carry, modify, or redirect redstone signals.

Mechanical

Blocks that convert redstone signals into physical movement or action.

Piston

Extends when powered, pushing up to 12 blocks in its facing direction. Cannot push obsidian, bedrock, or extended pistons. Does not pull blocks back when retracting.

Max signal: 0Added: Beta 1.7

Sticky Piston

Like a regular piston but pulls the attached block back when retracting. Essential for doors, drawbridges, and any mechanism that needs blocks to return to their original position.

Max signal: 0Added: Beta 1.7

Dispenser

A block that dispenses items when powered. Behavior depends on the item: shoots arrows/eggs/potions, places water/lava, equips armor on players, etc. Has 9 inventory slots.

Max signal: 0Added: Beta 1.2

Dropper

Similar to a dispenser but always drops items as entities or feeds them into adjacent containers. Does not shoot projectiles or use items. Essential for item transport systems.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.5

Hopper

Collects items from above and transfers them to the container it points at. Can be locked (disabled) with a redstone signal. Transfers 1 item every 8 game ticks (0.4 seconds).

Max signal: 0Added: 1.5

Note Block

Plays a musical note when powered. The instrument depends on the block below it, and the pitch is set by right-clicking (25 pitches, 2 octaves). Can be detected by sculk sensors.

Max signal: 0Added: Beta 1.2

TNT

Ignites when powered by redstone, becoming a primed TNT entity that explodes after 4 seconds (80 game ticks). Destroys blocks and damages entities in blast radius.

Max signal: 0Added: Alpha 1.0.14

Redstone Lamp

A light source that turns on when powered by redstone. Emits light level 15 when on, 0 when off. Has a slight delay when turning off (2 redstone ticks).

Max signal: 0Added: 1.2.1

Bell

Rings when powered by redstone or when hit by a player. Highlights nearby raid mobs with glowing effect. Can be hung from blocks or placed on solid surfaces.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.14

Crafter

An automated crafting block added in 1.21. When powered with a redstone signal, it crafts using items in its 3x3 grid. Individual slots can be disabled. Outputs crafted items from its face.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.21

Slime Block

A bouncy transparent block that sticks to adjacent blocks when pushed or pulled by pistons. Forms the backbone of flying machines. Entities bounce when landing on it.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.8

Honey Block

A sticky transparent block that sticks to adjacent blocks but does NOT stick to slime blocks. Slows entities walking on or against it. Useful for separating piston contraptions.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.15

Triggers

Blocks that detect events and output redstone signals in response.

Observer

Detects block state changes in front of its face and emits a 1-tick pulse from its back. Detects placement, removal, growth, state changes, and more.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.11

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.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.5

Target

Outputs a redstone signal when hit by a projectile. Signal strength depends on accuracy, center hit gives 15, edges give less. Signal lasts 10 redstone ticks.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.16

Lectern

Outputs a redstone signal proportional to the page being read in the placed book. Also emits a pulse when a player turns a page. Can be read by comparators for the page number.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.14

Detector Rail

A rail that outputs a redstone signal when a minecart passes over it. Comparator can read the contents of container minecarts. Signal lasts while minecart is on the rail.

Max signal: 15Added: Beta 1.5

Powered Rail

Accelerates minecarts when powered by redstone, and brakes them when unpowered. Powered rails propagate power up to 9 rails from the source. Essential for minecart systems.

Max signal: 0Added: Beta 1.5

Activator Rail

A rail that activates passing minecarts when powered. Effects depend on minecart type: TNT minecarts ignite, hopper minecarts lock, players dismount from regular minecarts.

Max signal: 0Added: 1.5

Lightning Rod

Attracts lightning strikes in a 128-block radius and outputs a redstone signal of 15 for 8 game ticks when struck. Prevents lightning fires in the surrounding area.

Max signal: 15Added: 1.17

Jukebox

Plays music discs and outputs a comparator signal based on which disc is inserted. Each of the 16 music discs produces a unique signal strength from 1 to 15.

Max signal: 15Added: Alpha 1.0.14