Daylight Detector
Daylight Detector emits a redstone signal proportional to sky light — drives automatic lighting and time-based contraptions.
Description
The block emits a redstone signal proportional to the current sky-light level: signal strength fifteen at noon under clear sky, decreasing as evening approaches, and zero at night. Right-clicking inverts the behaviour, switching to a night-mode variant that emits maximum signal at midnight and zero at noon — useful for automatic streetlight controllers that activate after dusk. Common uses include automatic doors that close at night, sky-light-driven brewing-stand timers, and chunk loaders that activate redstone clocks only during the day. The block must have direct sky access above; placing it under a roof returns zero signal.
Java Edition Guide
How to use a Daylight Detector in Minecraft
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1
Craft the detector
Place three glass blocks on top, three nether quartz in the middle, and three wood slabs on the bottom of the crafting grid to make one Daylight Detector.
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2
Place it under open sky
Set the detector where it has direct sky access above. A roof or block overhead lowers or zeroes the output.
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3
Read the redstone output
Run redstone dust or a comparator from its side. Signal strength rises toward 15 at noon and falls to 0 at night.
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4
Invert for night mode
Right-click the detector to flip it. It now emits maximum signal at midnight and zero at noon, ideal for automatic streetlights.
Weather and a comparator's subtract mode change the reading. Cloud cover and rain reduce the daytime signal below 15.
How to craft this block
Frequently asked questions
Can you craft a Daylight Detector?
Yes. Combine three glass, three nether quartz, and three wood slabs in the crafting grid to make one.
What signal does it give at noon and at night?
Under clear sky it outputs redstone strength 15 at noon and 0 at night, scaling with the sky-light level in between.
How do you make a Daylight Detector work at night?
Right-click it to invert it into a night sensor. It then emits maximum signal at midnight and zero at noon.
Does it work under a roof?
No. It needs direct sky access above. Any block or roof overhead lowers the signal, and full cover returns 0.
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