Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players wanting to build automated rail systems and redstone contraptions.
Ready to build amazing rail systems? Play minecraft games and put your redstone skills to the test!
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What Are Activator Rails?
Activator rails are special redstone-powered rail blocks that trigger specific actions when minecarts pass over them. Unlike detector rails that send signals, activator rails perform direct actions on minecarts and their passengers.
Crafting Activator Rails
You’ll need these materials:
- 6 iron ingots
- 2 sticks
- 1 redstone torch
Arrange them in a crafting table with iron ingots on the sides, sticks in the middle column, and the redstone torch at the bottom center. This recipe yields 6 activator rails.
How Activator Rails Work
Activator rails must be powered by redstone to function. When powered, they perform different actions depending on what passes over them:
Effects on Different Minecarts
| Minecart Type | Effect When Powered |
|---|---|
| Regular minecart with player | Ejects the player |
| Minecart with mob | Ejects the mob |
| Minecart with TNT | Ignites the TNT |
| Minecart with hopper | Disables/enables the hopper |
| Minecart with command block | Triggers the command |
Powering Activator Rails
You can power activator rails using:
- Redstone dust placed adjacent to the rail
- Redstone torches next to or below the rail
- Powered blocks adjacent to the rail
- Detector rails that activate when minecarts pass over them
Powered activator rails have a slightly brighter appearance and emit redstone particles.
Practical Applications
Player Ejection Systems
Create automatic stops by placing powered activator rails at stations. Players get ejected at the right spot without manual intervention.
TNT Cannons and Traps
Use activator rails to ignite TNT minecarts at precise locations for controlled explosions or defensive mechanisms.
Hopper Control
Toggle hopper minecarts on and off to control item flow in automated sorting systems. This prevents items from being collected when you don’t want them to be.
Command Block Automation
Trigger command blocks automatically as minecarts pass over activator rails, enabling complex redstone contraptions and map mechanics.
Tips for Effective Use
Space activator rails strategically – they don’t need to be powered constantly, just when you want the effect to occur. Combine them with detector rails for automatic triggering systems. Remember that unpowered activator rails act like normal rails and won’t perform any special actions.
For more advanced rail systems and transportation builds, you might want to explore other Minecraft projects and contraptions.
TL;DR
Activator rails are redstone-powered rails that eject players/mobs, ignite TNT, toggle hoppers, or trigger commands when minecarts pass over them. Craft with 6 iron ingots, 2 sticks, and 1 redstone torch.
