A daylight detector[a] is a block that outputs a redstone signal based on sunlight.
Using it inverts it, causing it instead to output a redstone signal based on the darkness of the sky.
Obtaining[]
Breaking[]
Daylight detectors can be broken fairly easily by hand, but can be broken faster by using an axe. Inverted daylight detectors cannot be collected directly; they drop a regular daylight detector. In Bedrock Edition, the inverted sensor may be obtained via inventory editing or add-ons.
| Block | Daylight Detector | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 0.2 | |
| Tool | ||
| Breaking time[A] | ||
| Default | 0.3 | |
| Wooden | 0.15 | |
| Stone | 0.1 | |
| Iron | 0.05 | |
| Diamond | 0.05 | |
| Netherite | 0.05 | |
| Golden | 0.05 | |
- ↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.
Crafting[]
| Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
|---|---|
| Glass + Nether Quartz + Any wood Slab |
Usage[]
Redstone component[]
Graphed daylight detector output in clear weather.
A daylight detector can be used to produce redstone power in proportion to the daylight cycle.
A daylight detector is 0.375 blocks high (3/8ths of a block). Daylight detectors can be moved by pistons.[Bedrock Edition only] Water and lava flow around daylight detectors without affecting them.
- Placement
- To place a daylight detector, use the "Use Item/Place Block" control.
- A daylight detector can be "inverted", which reverses the power levels produced by the daylight detector. To invert a daylight detector, aim at the placed daylight detector and use the "Use Item/Place Block" control.
- Activation
- A daylight detector activates when exposed to sufficient daylight (daylight detector mode) or when exposure to daylight is low enough (inverted daylight detector mode).
- Behavior
- An active daylight detector:
- powers adjacent redstone dust, including below it, and redstone comparators facing away from the daylight detector, to a power level that depends on the time of day, the weather, and the internal sky light level (see tables below)
- powers adjacent redstone repeaters facing away from the daylight detector to power level 15
- activates adjacent redstone mechanisms, including above and below, such as pistons, redstone lamps, etc.
- A daylight detector has no effect on other adjacent blocks (for example, it cannot power a block the way a repeater can).
- The output signal of daylight detectors in the loaded chunk is updated every 20 gametime[JE only]/daytime[BE only]. Block update have no effect on daylight detectors.
Daylight Detector[]
The daylight detector power level depends on the time of day, the weather, and the internal sky light level.
| Power | Clear | Rain or Snowfall | Thunder | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time ↓ | Time ↑ | Time ↓ | Time ↑ | Time ↓ | Time ↑ | |
| 0 | 13,670–(Midnight/18,000)-22,330
(8,660 Gtk/7:13) |
13,670-(Midnight/18,000)–22,330
(8,660 Gtk/7:13) |
13,670-(Midnight/18,000)–22,330
(8,660 Gtk/7:13) | |||
| 1 | 22,331–22,781
(450 Gtk/22.5 sec) |
13,219–13,669
(450 Gtk/22.5 sec) |
22,331–22,798
(467 Gtk/23.35 sec) |
13,203–13,669
(466 Gtk/23.3 sec) |
22,331–22,943
(612 Gtk/30.6 sec) |
13,058–13,669
(611 Gtk/30.55 sec) |
| 2 | 22,782–23,069[JE only]/23,070[BE only] J: (287 Gtk/14.35 sec)
B: (288 Gtk/14.4 sec) |
12,931–13,218
(287 Gtk/14.35 sec) |
22,799–23,231
(432 Gtk/21.6 sec) |
12,769[JE only]/12,770[BE only]-13,202
J: (433 Gtk/21.65 sec) B: (432 Gtk/21.6 sec) |
22,944–23,352
(408 Gtk/20.4 sec) |
12,648–13,057
(409 Gtk/20.45 sec) |
| 3 | 23,070[JE only]/23,071[BE only]-23,296
J: (226 Gtk/11.3 sec) B: (225 Gtk/11.25 sec) |
12,705–12,930
(225 Gtk/11.25 sec) |
23,232–23,504
(272 Gtk/13.6 sec) |
12,497–12,768[JE only]/12,769[BE only]J: (271 Gtk/13.55 sec)
B: (272 Gtk/13.6 sec) |
23,353–23,700
(347 Gtk/17.35 sec) |
12,300–12,647
(347 Gtk/17.35 sec) |
| 4 | 23,297–23,529
(232 Gtk/11.6 sec) |
12,471–12,704
(233 Gtk/11.65 sec) |
23,505–23,745
(240 Gtk/12 sec) |
12,256–12,496
(240 Gtk/12 sec) |
23,701-(Dawn/24,000/0)–59
(240 Gtk/12 sec) |
11,941[JE only]/11,942[BE only]-(Dusk/12,000)-12,299
J: (358 Gtk/17.9 sec) B: (357 Gtk/17.85 sec) |
| 5 | 23,530–23,767
(237 Gtk/11.85 sec) |
12,233–12,470
(237 Gtk/11.85 sec) |
23,746–23,991
(245 Gtk/12.25 sec) |
12,010–12,255
(245 Gtk/12.25 sec) |
60–441
(381 Gtk/19.05 sec) |
11,560–11,940[JE only]/11,941[BE only] J:(380 Gtk/19 sec)
B: (381 Gtk/19.05 sec) |
| 6 | 23,768–23,960
(192 Gtk/9.6 sec) |
12,041–12,232
(191 Gtk/9.55 sec) |
23,992–(Dawn/24,000/0)-394
(386 Gtk/19.3 sec) |
11,607–(Dusk/12,000)-12,009
(402 Gtk/20.1 sec) |
442–1,039
(597 Gtk/29.85 sec) |
10,962–11,559
(597 Gtk/29.85 sec) |
| 7 | 23,961–(Dawn/24,000/0)-166
(127 Gtk/6.35 sec) |
11,835–(Dusk/12,000)-12,040 (205 Gtk/10.25 sec) | 395–882
(487 Gtk/24.35 sec) |
11,119–11,606
(487 Gtk/24.35 sec) |
1,040–1,735
(695 Gtk/34.75 sec) |
10,266–10,961
(695 Gtk/34.75 sec) |
| 8 | 167–535
(368/18.4 sec) |
11,465[JE only]/11,466[BE only]-11,834
J: (369 Gtk/18.45 sec) B: (368 Gtk/18.4 sec) |
883–1,429[JE only]/1,430[BE only]J: (546 Gtk/27.3 sec)
B: (547 Gtk/27.35 sec) |
10,571–11,118
(547 Gtk/27.35 sec) |
1,736–2,608
(872 Gtk/43.6 sec) |
9,392–10,265
(873 Gtk/43.65 sec) |
| 9 | 536–933
(397 Gtk/19.85 sec) |
11,067–11,464[JE only]/11,465[BE only] J: (397 Gtk/19.85 sec)
B: (398 Gtk/19.9 sec) |
1,430[JE only]/1,431[BE only]-2,069
J: (639 Gtk/31.95 sec) B: (638 Gtk/31.6 sec) |
9,931–10,570
(639 Gtk/31.95 sec) |
2,609–3,942
(1,333 Gtk/1:06.65 sec) |
8,059–9,391
(1,332 Gtk/1:06.6 sec) |
| 10 | 934–1,371
(437 Gtk/21.85 sec) |
10,629–11,066
(737 Gtk/36.85 sec) |
2,070–2,875
(805 Gtk/40.25 sec) |
9,125[JE only]/9,126[BE only]-9,930
J: (805 Gtk/40.25 sec) B: (804 Gtk/40.2 sec) |
3,943–(Noon/6,000)-8,058
(4115 Gtk/3:25) | |
| 11 | 1,372–1,865
(493 Gtk/24.65 sec) |
10,136–10,628
(492 Gtk/24.6 sec) |
2,876–4,108
(1,232 Gtk/1:01.6) |
7,892–9,124[JE only]/7,893–9,125[BE only]J: (1,232 Gtk/1:01.6)
B: (1,232 Gtk/1:01.6) |
N/A | N/A |
| 12 | 1,866–2,444
(578 Gtk/28.9 sec) |
9,557–10,135
(578 Gtk/28.9 sec) |
4,109–(Noon/6,000)-7,891[JE only]/7,892[BE only] J:(3,410 Gtk/2:50) B: (3,783 Gtk/3:9.15) | N/A | N/A | |
| 13 | 2,445–3,175
(730 Gtk/36.5 sec) |
8,826–9,556
(730 Gtk/36.5 sec) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 14 | 3,176–4,294
(1,118 Gtk/55.9 sec) |
7,706–8,825
(1,119 Gtk/55.95 sec) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 15 | 4,295–(Noon/6,000)-7,705
(3,410 Gtk/2:50) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Inverted Daylight Detector[]
Using a daylight detector inverts it. However, the output of the inverted detector is not a simple inversion of the daylight detector's output; it uses a much simpler algorithm that depends only on the internal sky light level. Specifically, it outputs a signal strength of 15 minus the current internal sky light level, where values over 15 or below 0 are taken as 15 or 0 respectively. This means that an inverted daylight detector actually outputs a strength of 11 at midnight when it's clear weather, if it has line of sight with the sky. The effects of shade are applied before inverting, so shade increases the signal strength when it isn't already full, and prevents it from reaching zero.
Fuel[]
Daylight detectors can be used as a fuel in furnaces, smelting 1.5 items per block.
Note Blocks[]
Daylight detectors can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass" sounds.
Sounds[]
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
| None[sound 1] | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | None[sound 1] | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 |
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | dig | 1.0 | 0.8 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 0.23 | 0.5 | |
| Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Falling on the block without fall damage | land | 0.18 | 1.0 |
Data values[]
ID[]
| Name | Identifier | Form | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight Detector | daylight_detector | Block & Item | block.minecraft.daylight_detector |
| Name | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Block entity | daylight_detector |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight Sensor | daylight_detector | 151 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | tile.daylight_detector.name |
| Inverted Daylight Sensor | daylight_detector_inverted | 178 | Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4] | Identical[i 3] | — |
| Name | Savegame ID |
|---|---|
| Block entity | DaylightDetector |
Block states[]
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| inverted | false | falsetrue | If true, the daylight detector is inverted. |
| power | 0 | 0123456789101112131415 | The current redstone power level produced by the daylight sensor. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| redstone_signal | 0x10x20x40x8 | 0 | 0123456789101112131415 | 0123456789101112131415 | The current redstone power level produced by the daylight sensor. |
Block data[]
A daylight detector has a block entity associated with it which stores only its entity ID and position (the minimum data for a block entity). Although the daylight detector's block entity stores no additional data, the block entity ensures that the daylight detector is updated every game tick.
- Block entity data
- Tags common to all block entities
History[]
| July 6, 2010 | Notch suggests that he may implement daylight sensors (in the blog post mentioning Alpha 1.0.2_01). | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 24, 2012 | Jeb stated that there may be a daylight sensor. | ||||
| January 2, 2013 | Jeb tweeted an image of the daylight sensor. | ||||
| Java Edition | |||||
| 1.5 | 13w01a |  Added daylight sensors. | |||
| 1.8 | 14w31a |  Daylight sensors can now be toggled between day and night by using them. | |||
| 1.9 | 15w47a | Daylight sensors no longer emit signal during the night when sufficiently shaded. | |||
| Inverted daylight sensors now emit a variable signal at night. | |||||
| 1.11 | 16w32a | The block entity ID has now been changed from DLDetector to daylight_detector. | |||
| 1.13 | 17w47a | "Daylight Sensor" has been renamed to "Daylight Detector". | |||
| The different block IDs for the daylight detector have now been merged into one ID. | |||||
| Added an inverted block state to daylight detectors. | |||||
| Prior to The Flattening, these blocks' numeral IDs were 151 and 178. | |||||
| Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||
| v0.13.0 | build 1 | Added daylight sensors. | |||
| v0.15.0 | build 1 | Daylight sensors can now be moved by pistons. | |||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||
| TU19 | CU7 | 1.12 | Patch 1 | Added daylight sensors. | |
| TU25 | CU14 | 1.17 | Daylight sensors can now be toggled between day and night by using them. | ||
| New Nintendo 3DS Edition | |||||
| 0.1.0 | Added daylight detectors. | ||||
Gallery[]
First image of a daylight detector.
The 13w01a snapshot image released by Mojang.
A graph visualising the states of a Daylight Detector under different weather conditions (ends rounded to the nearest quarter of a thousand Game-ticks)
Issues[]
Issues relating to "Daylight Sensor" or "Daylight Detector" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Notes[]
- ↑ Known as Daylight Detector in Java Edition and Daylight Sensor in Bedrock Edition.
References[]