How to make automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft

A hopper minecart unloader is extremely simple to make in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)
A hopper minecart unloader is extremely simple to make in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)

In Minecraft, you can create all kinds of contraptions to sort items and blocks. Since you will hoard loads of resources as you progress through the game, managing them can be a pain. This is where some sorting contraptions can be of great help. One of these useful builds is an automatic hopper minecart unloader or dispenser.

A minecart hopper will automatically stop on top of the hopper and unload all the items before heading back on the powered rails to pick up more dropped items.

Here is a simple way to construct an automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft.


Steps to create an automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft

1) Items and blocks needed

You must have all these blocks and items to create an automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)
You must have all these blocks and items to create an automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)

First, you must collect all the resources needed to create the Minecraft contraption. Since this is a relatively simple unloader, the number of items and blocks needed is not too large. However, if you want to connect it to a bigger sorting system, you might have to collect more of these resources.

Here is a list of things needed for the automatic hopper minecart unloader:

  • One redstone comparator
  • One redstone repeater
  • Two redstone torch
  • One hopper
  • One chest
  • One minecart hopper
  • One regular rail
  • Six powered rails

If you want to expand the unloader, you will need more powered rails to cover a bigger area for collecting items. You will also need to add larger chests to collect more items.


2) Create a powered rail area

You can first create a powered rail area in Minecraft on which the minecart will run (Image via Mojang)
You can first create a powered rail area in Minecraft on which the minecart will run (Image via Mojang)

You must first place a line of powered rails that can be powered with a redstone torch. This is where the hopper minecart will run to collect any and all items dropped. This is a relatively simple setup that can be expanded based on your preferences.


3) Create the hopper and chest with unloader contraption

Create a redstone comparator contraption for a powered rail on top of the hopper in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)
Create a redstone comparator contraption for a powered rail on top of the hopper in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)

On the other side of the powered rail line, you must place a hopper with a chest. Place a powered rail on top of the hopper and connect it to the rest of the powered rails with a regular rail block.

Once this is done, you need to place a redstone comparator adjacent to the hopper, along with a block with a redstone torch on the other side. Then, place a block right on top of the torch and attach a redstone repeater adjacent to that block. For reference, you can take a look at the image above.

Finally, place a block right on top of the redstone comparator so that it stops the minecart when it reaches the top of the hopper.

This will complete the automatic hopper minecart unloader in Minecraft. Simply place the minecart hopper on powered rails and let it run. It will pick up items from the ground, stop on top of the hopper till it empties, and then head back down to collect more.

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