In the world of Minecraft, redstone comparators are essential components for creating complex and automated systems. They are particularly useful when interacting with containers, allowing players to detect the fullness and state of inventories. This article delves into the specifics of how comparators function with furnaces, focusing on the nuances of fuel and smelted items and how they influence the redstone signal output. Understanding these mechanics is crucial for any player looking to master redstone circuitry and optimize their Minecraft automation projects.
Comparator Basics: Reading Container Levels
Before diving into the specifics of furnaces, it’s important to grasp the fundamental way comparators work with containers. A comparator, in its default mode, reads the fullness of a container placed behind it. This “fullness” is translated into a redstone signal strength, ranging from 0 to 15. An empty container will output a signal strength of 0, while a completely full container will output the maximum signal strength of 15. For most containers, this calculation is straightforward: it’s based on the number of occupied slots and the type of items within those slots, effectively representing how “full” the container is in terms of item stacking.
Furnaces and Comparator Signal Strength: A Deeper Look
When a comparator is placed to read a furnace, the signal strength is determined by the items within the furnace’s inventory slots. However, the interaction is not as simple as just reading the total number of items. Furnaces have three inventory slots:
- Input Slot (Top Slot): Where items to be smelted are placed.
- Fuel Slot (Bottom Slot): Where fuel items like coal are placed.
- Output Slot (Right Slot): Where smelted items (ingots, etc.) are produced.
The game calculates the comparator output based on a somewhat complex formula involving the items in these slots. As the original analysis pointed out, the math can seem “random” at first glance. Let’s break down how fuel and smelted items contribute to the comparator signal.
The Influence of Fuel and Smelted Items
The initial observation from the original text highlights an interesting point: smelting 64 items with 64 coal results in a decrease in the total item count in the furnace (from 128 to 120). This reduction impacts the comparator signal. Specifically, the text notes that with 64 coal and 64 iron ore, the comparator output is a signal strength of 10 redstone dust (which corresponds to a comparator output value). This is not simply based on the combined stack size of 128.
The signal strength doesn’t change based on the type of smelted item. 64 iron ore becoming 64 iron ingots maintains a consistent signal strength contribution from the smelted items themselves. However, the crucial factor is the consumption of fuel.
As coal is consumed during smelting, the total number of items within the furnace decreases. This decrease is what causes the comparator signal to fluctuate. The example provided shows that starting with 64 coal and 64 ore (128 items), the signal strength is initially higher. As coal is used up, the total item count drops, and so does the signal strength.
Practical Implications and Quirks
The original analysis points out a key issue: using a comparator to detect when a full smelting process is complete is not straightforward. The signal strength drops as fuel is consumed, but this drop doesn’t precisely indicate when all 64 items have been smelted. For example, the signal might drop when there are still unsmelted ore and some remaining fuel, leading to an inaccurate “smelt complete” detection.
Furthermore, if you remove the smelted ingots and replenish the input ore while leaving the remaining fuel, the signal behavior becomes even more complex. The comparator might not reliably detect the completion of the next smelting cycle due to the way fuel consumption and item counts interact.
Single Item Signal Strength vs. Smelting Signal Strength
The original text also provides valuable data on signal strength ranges for single items and smelting scenarios.
Single Item Signal Strength (Coal or Ore, without Comparator Calculation):
- 1 – 13 items: 1 redstone dust signal
- 14 – 27 items: 2 redstone dust signal
- 28 – 41 items: 3 redstone dust signal
- 42 – 54 items: 4 redstone dust signal
- 55 – 64 items: 5 redstone dust signal
Smelting Signal Strength (64 Ore, varying Coal amounts, resulting in Total Items in Furnace):
- 64 Ore / 1 – 4 Coal (68 Total Items): 5 redstone dust signal
- 64 Ore / 5 – 18 Coal (82 Total Items): 6 redstone dust signal
- 64 Ore / 19 – 31 Coal (95 Total Items): 7 redstone dust signal
- 64 Ore / 32 – 45 Coal (109 Total Items): 8 redstone dust signal
- 64 Ore / 46 – 59 Coal (123 Total Items): 9 redstone dust signal
- 64 Ore / 60 – 64 Coal (128 Total Items): 10 redstone dust signal
This data clearly shows that the comparator signal strength in furnaces is influenced by the total count of items, which includes both fuel and items being smelted. As fuel is consumed and the total item count decreases, the signal strength reduces accordingly.
Conclusion: Mastering Comparator Redstone for Furnace Automation
Understanding how Comparator Redstone signals behave with furnaces is essential for advanced Minecraft automation. While the mechanics might seem somewhat intricate or even “random” at first, recognizing the influence of both fuel and smelted items on the total item count helps in predicting and utilizing comparator outputs effectively.
For players aiming to create precise smelting automation systems, it’s crucial to consider these nuances. Simply relying on a comparator to detect “smelt complete” based on a signal drop might not be reliable. More sophisticated redstone circuits might be needed to account for fuel consumption and ensure accurate detection of smelting completion or other furnace states. By experimenting and carefully observing comparator behavior in different furnace loading scenarios, players can harness the power of comparator redstone for innovative and efficient Minecraft contraptions.
