Alternate Current
by Space Walker
With Alternate Current, redstone dust networks calculate their power across the whole network before any levels update, which reduces server lag from redstone circuits.
What it does
Redstone dust normally updates recursively, so a single wire can change its power level more than half a dozen times before settling. Alternate Current replaces that behavior by checking power from non-wire components once and from other wires twice, identifying power sources inside the network and spreading power outward from them. Shape and block updates go out only when the final level is reached, and no wire emits redundant updates.
The mod is published under the MIT License and is open source, with its source code and issue tracker publicly linked. Only the server needs it, so players join without installing anything. Files exist for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Quilt and Ornithe across 161 release versions, and snapshot builds are published as well.
Key features
Whole-network power calculation
Power is calculated for the entire redstone dust network before levels are updated, instead of wire by wire.
Reduced update emission
Shape and block updates are sent only once the final power level is reached, cutting redundant updates.
Predictable update order
Block updates in redstone dust networks follow a consistent order rather than an irregular one.
Drop-in replacement
Few code changes are made to vanilla redstone dust, so it works as a direct replacement for the default behavior.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.17.x2 of 2 versions with builds
1.16.x6 of 6 versions with builds
1.15.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.14.x5 of 5 versions with builds
This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.
55 older game versions (1.0 – 1.13.2) not shown. All files on Modrinth
Use cases
Large redstone builds on servers
Server owners running dense redstone circuits can reduce the tick time that redstone dust adds to each game tick.
Predictable circuit design
Builders who need consistent update timing get a more orderly sequence of dust updates.
Who it’s for: Server owners and builders running heavy redstone contraptions who want lower tick cost without changing how redstone works in general.
Questions
Does Alternate Current need to be installed on players' clients?
Which loaders does Alternate Current support?
Is the code available to inspect?
In the catalog
Alternate Current is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Space Walker
Similar mods
What the author says
Alternate Current is an efficient and non-locational redstone dust implementation. Its main focus lies in reducing the lag caused by redstone dust, by optimizing the power calculations and reducing the number of shape and block updates emitted. As a side effect of these changes the block update order of redstone dust…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/alternate-current
- Owner
- Space Walker
- Published
- 2021-04-05
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-21
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15