Alright, so I've decided to start sort of a series explaining how exactly this fancy schmancy redstone stuff works in Minecraft, and what kind of cool stuff you can do with it. First off are some redstone basics, since we've got to start somewhere!
Alright, so first off, what exactly does redstone do? Well, self, that's a very good question. Redstone has 2 states, on (a bright red color) and off, (a dark color). Redstone's default state is off, which means that if you just put some redstone on the ground, it's going to stay off, not doing anything.
To get redstone to turn on, you're going to need a power source. Now, there are a lot of ways that power redstone, but they can be condensed into 2 categories, torches and "activator" items/blocks. I'll cover the "activators" first.
To activate redstone, all you need to do it take a lever, pressure plate, or button (which you actually need to put on a block before you can do anything with), put it next to some redstone, and hit it/step on it. The result is redstone with an on state, as shown in this picture, with the right lever being activated and turning the redstone on.
Big Picture Coming Up!
NOTE: A button or pressure plate will only activate redstone for a short period of time, so if you're looking to KEEP redstone in its on state, use a lever!
What did that wall of text have to do with using redstone, you say? Well, when powered redstone is connected to a door, minecart track turn, or other blocks affected by redstone, it automagically changes the state of the object, as shown here, with the left door being powered and opening:
Doors
BIG NOTE:It's important for the redstone to be in a straight line to the door/object (or below it, but that's for a later post). It will not work if the redstone does not go directly to the door/object, like so:
<-
Another thing to note is that redstone has a 15 block power limit. What's that? Well, just see for yourself:
Why is the door shut?
Notice how the redstone suddenly turns off towards the door? That because redstone only carries a "signal" for 15 blocks until it turns off. There is a way to get around this, though, but that's again for a different post.
So now to address torches. Torches also have on and off states. The important thing to know, though, is that torches can both turn redstone on and off, and be turned on and off by redstone. Check out the following pictures:
#1
#2
In picture 1, the torch is on a flat plane with the redstone around it, so it's turning it on. The redstone is being affected by the torch in this scenario, not vice-versa. The important thing to remember is that torches change redstone when they are on the same "level" as them, or directly beneath them, as shown HERE. This is EXTREMELY important to remember. If you are trying to get a torch to change the state of redstone it MUST BE ON THE SAME PLANE or BENEATH the redstone. Otherwise, we'll get the scenario pictured in #2. Doors and other redstone controlled things also open/activate if there is a torch on beneath them, since the torch gives power to blocks above it.
In picture #2, the torch looks like it shouldn't be off, right? Wrong. When a torch is on a block, and there is redstone connected to the block, the redstone will turn the torch off if the redstone is powered. Torches' states are the exact opposite of redstone dust. When a torch is receiving no power, it will be on, but when it is receiving power, it will turn off.
Torches also act a little differently if placed on the side of a block. It will affect the blocks immediately around the torch, as shown in this picture:
Torch on the Side
The torch may seem like it's impossible to turn on or off, if you look carefully, you can see there is redstone on top of the block with the torch on it. This redstone is currently off, but if it were on, it would turn the torch off. There is also another way to turn such a torch off, as shown here:
Off State
If the redstone trail leads directly to the block (from any direction, not just the back), it can turn the torch on or off.
Phew. I hope that that was understandable. If you have any questions, leave a comment, and I'll help out. The next post will hopefully finish up basic redstone stuff and start on basic logic gates.
Alright, so first off, what exactly does redstone do? Well, self, that's a very good question. Redstone has 2 states, on (a bright red color) and off, (a dark color). Redstone's default state is off, which means that if you just put some redstone on the ground, it's going to stay off, not doing anything.
To get redstone to turn on, you're going to need a power source. Now, there are a lot of ways that power redstone, but they can be condensed into 2 categories, torches and "activator" items/blocks. I'll cover the "activators" first.
To activate redstone, all you need to do it take a lever, pressure plate, or button (which you actually need to put on a block before you can do anything with), put it next to some redstone, and hit it/step on it. The result is redstone with an on state, as shown in this picture, with the right lever being activated and turning the redstone on.
Big Picture Coming Up!
NOTE: A button or pressure plate will only activate redstone for a short period of time, so if you're looking to KEEP redstone in its on state, use a lever!
What did that wall of text have to do with using redstone, you say? Well, when powered redstone is connected to a door, minecart track turn, or other blocks affected by redstone, it automagically changes the state of the object, as shown here, with the left door being powered and opening:
Doors
BIG NOTE:It's important for the redstone to be in a straight line to the door/object (or below it, but that's for a later post). It will not work if the redstone does not go directly to the door/object, like so:
<-Another thing to note is that redstone has a 15 block power limit. What's that? Well, just see for yourself:
Why is the door shut?
Notice how the redstone suddenly turns off towards the door? That because redstone only carries a "signal" for 15 blocks until it turns off. There is a way to get around this, though, but that's again for a different post.
So now to address torches. Torches also have on and off states. The important thing to know, though, is that torches can both turn redstone on and off, and be turned on and off by redstone. Check out the following pictures:
#1
#2
In picture 1, the torch is on a flat plane with the redstone around it, so it's turning it on. The redstone is being affected by the torch in this scenario, not vice-versa. The important thing to remember is that torches change redstone when they are on the same "level" as them, or directly beneath them, as shown HERE. This is EXTREMELY important to remember. If you are trying to get a torch to change the state of redstone it MUST BE ON THE SAME PLANE or BENEATH the redstone. Otherwise, we'll get the scenario pictured in #2. Doors and other redstone controlled things also open/activate if there is a torch on beneath them, since the torch gives power to blocks above it.
In picture #2, the torch looks like it shouldn't be off, right? Wrong. When a torch is on a block, and there is redstone connected to the block, the redstone will turn the torch off if the redstone is powered. Torches' states are the exact opposite of redstone dust. When a torch is receiving no power, it will be on, but when it is receiving power, it will turn off.
Torches also act a little differently if placed on the side of a block. It will affect the blocks immediately around the torch, as shown in this picture:
Torch on the Side
The torch may seem like it's impossible to turn on or off, if you look carefully, you can see there is redstone on top of the block with the torch on it. This redstone is currently off, but if it were on, it would turn the torch off. There is also another way to turn such a torch off, as shown here:
Off State
If the redstone trail leads directly to the block (from any direction, not just the back), it can turn the torch on or off.
Phew. I hope that that was understandable. If you have any questions, leave a comment, and I'll help out. The next post will hopefully finish up basic redstone stuff and start on basic logic gates.
