Firstly, here's a picture so that I don't have to try and explain everything, confusing all of you in the process.
Alright, so I've been trying to get the detector rail (indicated by the black arrow) to act as an on/off switch for the fork in the mine cart rails (indicated by the white arrow,) so each time you ride the track, you get a different path. I've tried a couple of methods, and none seem to work so far. I am not really an expert on redstone, but I get the basics of it.
Also, just hooking up redstone to each end doesn't work the way I want it to. It simply activates the rail, and when you move from the detector rail it reverts to it's original position. This doesn't let you travel down the other side, ever.
I would like the wiring and devices to be as hidden as possible, but as long as I can get it to work, I'd be happy with it. If anyone can help, thanks in advance.
My info could be outdated but I believe that if you take redstone wire from the detector rail and hook it up to the intersection in question it should change.
I probably wasn't clear in the OP, so I'll edit that with this info.
I tried the method you suggested previous to posting this, along with a few other ones that didn't work. The problem with just hooking redstone up to the blocks is that it acts like a button, or pressure plate instead of an on/off switch. Basically, it will only allow you to travel in one direction, leaving the other direction totally useless.
I just got my T-intersection working, but it took me an entire night to figure it all out and build it so it works. I made a thread about it. Probably WAY more complicated than you're looking for here... and in my version, I must come to a stop in the cart, use a lever to manually select the direction I want to go, then hit a button to send me and my cart on its way.
What I learned is that when you power up an intersection, it goes one way, and when you leave it unpowered, it goes the other way. So I don't think just a detector rail will ever work for ya. For me, I used two XOR logic gates in series so that every time I flip one of my three levers, the switch changes direction. It doesn't even matter to me if it's powered on, or powered off. I just wanted each lever to flip the direction of the intersection no matter what state the other two levers are in... that's what XOR logic gates do.
If I think of anything I'll let you know McAngus... but I think you're gonna have to get a little more complicated with your design. Redstone is fun to me, things like this make it a puzzle to be solved. And I love puzzles.
Look for the RS NOR latch. I think that would do what you are looking for.
Actually I think he needs a "T Flip Flop"... but my research has shown me that without pistons, it's horribly complicated.
The T Flip Flop changes the state of the output each time it's powered. So the switch would flip over to one side and stay there. The next time the detector rail is powered, the switch would change direction and stay that way until the next time. Not true random, but it would mean you alternate the direction you go each time you pass thru. I think that's what McAngus wants.
To get your pressure plate switch to remain active as your minecart travels across the junction, you'll probably want to use redstone repeaters in the path between the switch and the turn that increase the delay just long enough.
Alright, so I've been trying to get the detector rail (indicated by the black arrow) to act as an on/off switch for the fork in the mine cart rails (indicated by the white arrow,) so each time you ride the track, you get a different path. I've tried a couple of methods, and none seem to work so far. I am not really an expert on redstone, but I get the basics of it.
Also, just hooking up redstone to each end doesn't work the way I want it to. It simply activates the rail, and when you move from the detector rail it reverts to it's original position. This doesn't let you travel down the other side, ever.
I would like the wiring and devices to be as hidden as possible, but as long as I can get it to work, I'd be happy with it. If anyone can help, thanks in advance.
But I'm also not a redstone expert.
I tried the method you suggested previous to posting this, along with a few other ones that didn't work. The problem with just hooking redstone up to the blocks is that it acts like a button, or pressure plate instead of an on/off switch. Basically, it will only allow you to travel in one direction, leaving the other direction totally useless.
What I learned is that when you power up an intersection, it goes one way, and when you leave it unpowered, it goes the other way. So I don't think just a detector rail will ever work for ya. For me, I used two XOR logic gates in series so that every time I flip one of my three levers, the switch changes direction. It doesn't even matter to me if it's powered on, or powered off. I just wanted each lever to flip the direction of the intersection no matter what state the other two levers are in... that's what XOR logic gates do.
If I think of anything I'll let you know McAngus... but I think you're gonna have to get a little more complicated with your design. Redstone is fun to me, things like this make it a puzzle to be solved. And I love puzzles.
P.S. Here's my post, you probably already read it... http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1253192-t-intersection-switch-for-rail-network/
Seems like nobody liked all the words I wrote. hahaha
Actually I think he needs a "T Flip Flop"... but my research has shown me that without pistons, it's horribly complicated.
The T Flip Flop changes the state of the output each time it's powered. So the switch would flip over to one side and stay there. The next time the detector rail is powered, the switch would change direction and stay that way until the next time. Not true random, but it would mean you alternate the direction you go each time you pass thru. I think that's what McAngus wants.