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I have built a simple hopper/dropper "vending machine" as seen in the pictures below:

My device

Item frame diagram: Item frame diagram

When an item goes into the hopper, it activates the comparator which then ignites the redstone torch. The torch then "short-circuits" itself after 8 ticks, causing 8 items to be dispensed. This works as expected in Minecraft 1.9 (Mac/PC edition), but does not function properly in Minecraft Xbox One CU41.

In Xbox One edition, the torch ignites (as expected) when an item is put in the hopper. However, it also ignites randomly every 15 seconds or so.

According to the Minecraft Wiki,

[The redstone torch] will re-activate when it receives a block update (an adjacent block changing its state) or a redstone update which wouldn't normally deactivate the redstone torch.

Neither of the circumstances for re-lighting were being triggered, as I left the device alone. Why is this happening (is this a glitch?) and how do I fix it?

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    Based on the setup... I'm not sure how the torch isn't just always on. There is not constant power other than itself to keep itself off and primed to be triggered, so it's always in an infinite loop? The hopper just acts as a reset/trigger but if you're not using it there is nothing keeping the torch off. (This is just off the top of my head I haven't played in a few months so I'm rusty and mostly asking as clarification. :) )
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Apr 6, 2017 at 18:16
  • @ZealousHypocrites When you first place the dispenser down, it powers the torch (which in turn turns off and starts the cycle). Torches burn out after 8 cycles. Basically it keeps burning itself out.
    – yummypasta
    Apr 6, 2017 at 18:45
  • @ZealousHypocrites Actually, the diagram is wrong. I didn't include the redstone dust in the item frame diagram! I'm fixing it right now
    – yummypasta
    Apr 6, 2017 at 19:13
  • Yes... so... why does it /stay/ burned out though? Without power, because it is off, nothing is keeping it off, therefore it will try and turn back on at some point. Once it has power again, it will burn itself out again, but then there will be no power keeping it off. Infinite loop...?
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Apr 6, 2017 at 20:01
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    @ZealousHypocrites without sounding overly simplistic, that's just how the game works. It burns out after 8 ticks, then stays "dead" until you update an adjacent block, which restarts the cycle. There's nothing fancy about it - that just happens.
    – Ben
    Apr 7, 2017 at 2:16

1 Answer 1

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This is standard behavior of the redstone torch. Every now and then it will be triggered by a random update.

This is a type of block update which randomly triggers certain blocks. This is also which is used by for example plants growing on farmland or saplings turning into trees.

This used to be a feature in all minecraft versions but it has been removed with one of the latest java versions (I don't know which).

I believe this might be fixed in a future update also for XBox as mojang is trying to make each version compatible with each other. Till then you will have to wait or find another way to create this.

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    So I was right. This is the expected behavior.
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Jun 7, 2017 at 16:07
  • yes for certain versions it still is but they are trying out a new system for it
    – BRHSM
    Jun 11, 2017 at 13:13
  • Well yeah that's fine. Just... "as it is" that "has" been the way it's been for "most" of the time. Statistically speaking, of course. As in I've been playing the game back when it only cost like $8 and repeaters didn't even exist yet. Even back then, and for the entire time up until this point, a redstone torch will NOT stay off unless it has power feeding it. Even IF it burns itself out, it only stays off for a certain number of ticks then checks again if it still has power and will turn itself back on if it doesn't, because its JOB is to be on /unless/ it has power.
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Jun 11, 2017 at 22:11
  • Basically if they make this change it will change /thousands/ of existing redstone contraptions. I hope it doesn't ruin too many of them.
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Jun 11, 2017 at 22:13
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    Note: I can think of one exception. A torch will STAY burned out sometimes depending on chunk loading order, and if your redstone contraption exists on the border of a chunk. It depends on both the location and orientation. Read up on the old North/South glitch we had to use to get single tick differences to open double doors at the same time (again before repeaters existed, and before they just simply patched the doors to work better) for a basic understanding of how that happens.
    – ZealousHypocrites
    Jun 13, 2017 at 17:46

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