How to make a CLAP ON - CLAP OFF circuit from scratch

video How to make a CLAP ON - CLAP OFF circuit from scratch - No Software Required

Hi all
This video is a very detailed tutorial about how to make a clap-on, clap-off toggler circuit that can either light up an LED, or turn a 5v relay on and off. It is inexpensive, and easy to build. The parts are less than $15 if purchased off of ebay. You don't need to use all of this hardware. You can use some of the electronic bricks talked about in the video to modify your own circuit. This is a hardware based circuit, and it requires no software at all. I'll be making other tutorials in the upcoming weeks. I hope you enjoy this video. It is long, but very detailed!

In the video, I talk about the following electronic bricks, and I assemble and test as the video processes:
1) The microphone ciruit
2) The amplifier stage (To amplify the audio signal from the microphone)
3) The comparator stage (To create digital square wave)
4) The re-triggerable Monostable multivibrator stage (To turn hundreds of pulses into one single long pulse)
5) The toggler stage (Based on a JK flip-flop circuit)
6) The relay stage (To control AC devices)

I've created two other instructables on clap on/off circuits that rid the need of lots of hardware by using a programmed chip to do all the work. They can be found here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/USB-powered-clapper-switch-Extremely-little-HW-R/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Clap-Clap-on-Clap-Clap-Off-switch-/

If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them. If you have the parts, just follow along with the video, and you'll be able to re-create the circuit exactly. Remember, the parts can all be found through ebay. Thanks for watching, everyone!

jasshopper says: Apr 18, 2013. 10:26 PM

Can you use this in any way to light up a 220VAC cfl?

WWC says: Nov 26, 2012. 1:55 AM

You video tutorials are top draw. Keep em coming.

Thanks

W

sdemon says: Sep 15, 2012. 8:16 AM

can we use 74LS123D instead of 74LS123A monostable multivibrator,if yes please tell me its pin configuration.I cant get the output. please reply as soon as possible.

isadcari says: Sep 10, 2012. 9:04 PM

this is great! just one question is it posible to add diferent output no just on/off
for example if the output is 10v, is it possible to have 10, 5, 2.5 and 0v instead ?

akashson says: Jul 26, 2012. 9:24 AM

Hey I cant get 74Ls123A .what to do?I tried using 555 timer in monostable mode but output always remains even though when there is no sound.please help.

akashson says: Jul 26, 2012. 12:45 AM

Very nice video .I cant believe how easily you made me understand .I understood that from top to bottom .I hope you keep doing videos like this.Enjoyed watching every bit of it.
I will try it out today.Thank you.

jensenr30 says: Apr 30, 2012. 3:09 PM

here is what I controlled with my clapper circuit:

EngineeringShock (author) says: May 1, 2012. 8:24 AM

Neat! You're right about the 16 pin typo. Thanks for bringing it to my attention =)
Great work, and excellent circuit!

jensenr30 says: May 2, 2012. 8:08 PM

Thanks!

pfred2 says: May 1, 2012. 7:39 AM

I enjoyed it. This circuit must be good for palm circulation with all of that clap stimulus going on. I like to see circuits made with simple SSI integrated circuits as opposed to the hit it with a micro-controller method which is so prevalent anymore. I don't have anything against µCs but I think people use them too often, when some simpler ICs would suffice.

EngineeringShock (author) says: May 1, 2012. 8:26 AM

Yes, I agree. When I made my first clap circuit, I created a design similar to this. However, I do see the benefit of MCUs. A small PIC10F222 can allow for you to do all of this in one. no amplifier, multivibrator, or flip flop required. However, a lot of people are just getting into electronics, so it's helpful to show how to do it all without having to worry about programming =)

pfred2 says: May 1, 2012. 10:07 AM

I looked up a PIC10F222 and was excited when I saw their low price! I became less enthusiastic after I saw what it would cost me with shipping. Now I see that in order to use the device I need a programmer too. Are there any other hidden costs I am missing? I've been into electronics for about 40 years now so I have piles of the old chips lying around. I could probably built 2 dozen of your clapper circuits without even digging too deep into my hoard. Nah, skip them fancy MCUs, I like working with my old junk. That is what is fun to me!

EngineeringShock (author) says: May 2, 2012. 5:47 AM

Which is why I made this instructable. No MCU required. My PIC version is much more versatile, but is not for people who do not have programmers. There are tons of cheap programmers out there, and once you have one, you can do so much more with one chip than you can do with 20 TTL or CMOS chips. Which is why they are far superior.

jensenr30 says: Apr 30, 2012. 3:14 PM

Great video! I really like it. I have one of arduino projects hooked up to the clapper that I built (from your video). This video is just one of your many videos that are awesome, and very in-depth. Your videos and instructable are amazing. You are one of my favorite instuctables users. Keep it up.

I noticed that your schematic in your video says that the 74LS123 (Monostable) has 14 pins. But my 74LS123 has 16 pins. Was that a mistake on your part? Or are there 74123 chips that have 14 pins?
The only 74123's I found on google had 16 pins.

Ryan

Aryamaan says: Mar 16, 2012. 10:58 PM

Hello Patrick nice video.
Could i use this whole circuit with a 9v battery.
Or i have to use 5v ........................
please reply

jensenr30 says: Apr 30, 2012. 3:07 PM

Unless all of your integrated circuits can handle 9V, just use 5V. You could, however, use the output from the JK flip-flop (Q) to control a transistor/relay that would switch a larger voltage/load.

TNT47 says: Mar 15, 2012. 5:10 AM

I need the parts dude i cant find them all in the video please make a list

pratip_banerjee says: Feb 29, 2012. 10:59 AM

Hi Patrick,
I am from India. Excellent video. Of late I have been bitten by the bug to learn electronics. Shall be glad if you can post a complete schematic. It shall help me compare your diagram from the one I have drawn after having watched your video. Also a total component list shall be helpful. If these info are already available, can you provide a link to see the same.
Regards
Banerjee

Bsk72 says: Feb 23, 2012. 1:48 PM

I love how this was dictated, very precise, very detailed.
please continue making videos like this one.
I work with relays every day and now I am able to explain it to someone else with some degree of confidence.
There should be more like this.
I love to learn and this is exactly how if you are hands on and visual like myself and cannot be there physically.
Thank You and Great Work!

archiesweet29 says: Feb 8, 2012. 4:28 AM

Please Reply as soon as possible . I have to submit the schematic and block diagram by tomorrow :P and I am supposed to use just 8085 uP and have to interface it with other ICs and Memory.. !! And have to do the programming in Assembly language..

archiesweet29 says: Feb 8, 2012. 4:26 AM

HI....
I was chgecking this vdeo. I am planning to make the clap switch using 8085v uP. Can you tell me how to make this using 8085?