8. The Cauldron Water Level Switch
What This Idea Means
A simple cauldron full of water can act as a concealed mechanical key. When a comparator is placed behind a cauldron, it measures how much water is inside. Taking a bottle of water out of the cauldron reduces the water level and changes the comparator signal, opening a hidden passage behind a kitchen counter or brewing station.
Materials Needed
- 1 Cauldron
- 1 Water Bucket
- 1 Glass Bottle
- 1 Redstone Comparator
- Redstone Dust
- 1 Redstone Torch
- Sticky Pistons
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Make It
- Install Cauldron: Place a cauldron on the floor against a wall in a brewing area or kitchen. Fill it completely using a water bucket (Level 3).
- Comparator Setup: Place a comparator directly behind the wall block touching the cauldron. A full cauldron outputs a signal strength of 3.
- Circuit Calibration: Run 3 blocks of redstone dust from the comparator output. Place a redstone torch at the end of the 2nd redstone dust block to keep the door locked when the cauldron is full.
- Wire to Pistons: Connect the torch output to the sticky pistons holding your hidden door shut.
- Operation: Use a glass bottle to remove one unit of water from the cauldron. The water level drops to 2, reducing the signal strength. The redstone torch turns on, opening the secret passage. Refilling the cauldron closes the door.
Tips and Variations
- Brewing Stand Integration: Place this mechanism directly in a potion-making laboratory where cauldrons look completely natural.