Turning on the light with a clap. Clap switch or turning on the light by clapping

Nowadays, remote control of lighting is becoming popular. You can use a sound or clap switch for this. If the sound is intense enough, equal in strength to clapping your hands, the light turns on or off. If earlier such electrical circuits were assembled by radio amateurs, now the device can be bought in many electrical goods stores.

Cotton switch model

Connection diagrams

The simplest device, which you make yourself, works from a microphone, amplifying the signal several times. One such scheme is shown in the figure below. All components are easily accessible.

Cotton switch operation diagram

The amplifier consists of two transistors (KT315). The signal from the microphone (M) passes through them, is amplified and goes to the base of a powerful transistor (KT 818). It controls a relay (Rel1) that closes or opens its contact in the power circuit of a lamp or other load: air conditioner, fan, etc. The sensitivity of the device is 4-5 m, which is sufficient for domestic premises. The sound, supplied periodically, alternately connects and disconnects the load from the network.

The circuit is one of the simplest, especially since the microphone can be taken from an old tape recorder or telephone. An electret microphone is common. One pin is connected to the body (minus). It's easy to call and find. The energy consumption of the device is insignificant, and the supplied voltage is 3.5-16 V.

Instead of a relay, you can connect a low-power LED lamp, which will be the main load. Then the circuit will have no mechanical parts, and its reliability will increase. The light bulb is quite suitable for a night light, lighting a household space, as well as a room where it is difficult to navigate at night, and the main switch is difficult to find.

The switch diagram shown is too simple. You can assemble a more advanced and reliable device using thyristors with your own hands.

Connection diagram for a cotton switch using thyristors

The basis is a trigger made of thyristors (V2), (V3) and a transistor switch (V4). The trigger is connected to a voltage divider consisting of a microphone (B1) and a resistor (R8). The key controls the lamp (H1). The trigger is powered through a diode (V9) and resistors (R9), (R10). The voltage is equalized using a capacitor (C7) and a zener diode (V1).

A stable state of the trigger will be when one of the thyristors is on and the other is off. When a sound signal is received from the microphone, a pulse appears on the voltage divider, transferring the trigger to another state. The lamp will either turn on or off.

The load power of the switch is about 100 W. If it needs to be increased, more powerful diodes (V5-V8) of the bridge circuit are used, and SCRs are installed on radiators.

Landing lighting

For interfloor lighting, it is advisable to use an acoustic sensor with a photo relay.

Circuit diagram of a switch combined with a photosensor

The photodiode (VD1) forms a voltage divider with a resistor (R2), which forms a voltage divider with it and allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor. If the photosensor is not needed, it is turned off by setting the resistor (R2) to minimum.

The circuit is based on the K176LA7 microcircuit, the elements of which are D1.1-D1.4. D1.1 and D1.2, they are designed to eliminate chattering of the automatic light switch at threshold illumination values.

The sound signal is picked up by an electret microphone and converted into an electrical signal. It is then amplified by bipolar transistors and fed to logic elements (D1.3) and (D1.4), which generate a pulse lasting about 10 seconds. During this time, the light lamp (La1) remains on. In the daytime, the lamp is turned off by a control signal coming from the output (4) of the element (D1.2).

Automatic soft switch

The switch serves to smoothly turn on the light from an analog microphone signal for a specified time.

Scheme of operation of a smooth acoustic switch

The sound enters the microphone, is converted into an electrical signal and amplified, passing through the operational amplifier (DA1.1), charging the capacitor (C6). When the charge becomes greater than the capacitance (C7), the comparator (DA1.2) switches, and a logical one signal appears at its output instead of zero. As a result, the generator on the transistor (VT1) starts, it supplies pulses that open the triac (VS1), through which power is supplied to the lamp (EL1).

After a certain time, the voltage across the capacitor will decrease. As it decreases, the triac receives control pulses with an increasing phase delay, causing the lamp to turn off smoothly.

Having selected the ratings (C6) and (R5), you can turn on the lamp for up to 3 minutes.

Manufacturers

Cotton switch “Ekosvet”

Reduced prices for electronics make it impractical to make acoustic light switches with your own hands. The Ecolight switch works with all types of 220 V lamps. Specifications:

The device is secured with self-tapping screws to the mounting tabs. The principle of operation is to turn on and off the load with one clap. The switch should not be located in rooms where there may be extraneous sound. False positives are allowed, despite the fact that it is configured primarily for claps.

“Ekosvet” is connected to a 220 V network according to the connection diagram for a smooth acoustic switch shown in the figure above. It can be seen that it is connected to a regular switch, which is needed to de-energize the circuit and put it out of operation.

Connection diagram for cotton switch “Ekosvet”

“Claps” switch

The modern model of the “Claps” switch is one of the new developments where the sound is processed by a microprocessor. The device is set to several claps and does not respond to other extraneous sounds. In this case, a prerequisite for turning on or off the light is to send signals in a row. In one room you can install several such switches that respond to a certain number of claps. To do this, you need to set a jumper on the electronic board of the device to a certain position. Thus, by supplying the required number of signals evenly following each other, you can control several devices, for example, light sources, a fan, a humidifier, a music center and others.

Electrically opening curtains with pops can impress guests. The control device has the size of a matchbox and can easily be hidden in the body of the device or in the socket of a switch. The “Claps Plug” version can easily be used to adapt any household appliance with an electrical cord that will turn on by sound.

Cotton switch “Claps Plug”

Such operation provides better protection against extraneous noise. This model differs from an acoustic switch. Lamps can be any. Compared to the previous model, the price of the device is significantly higher (RUB 2,450).

If the cotton switch provides for smooth switching of the load, then it will not work with fluorescent lamps. The “Claps” switch can be used with them.

Principle of operation. Video

You can learn about the operating principle and design diagram of the cotton switch from the video below.

When installing and adjusting the cotton light switch, you should follow safety precautions for working with electricity. After installation, you need to set the required sensitivity. The devices operate reliably in rooms where there is no extraneous sound. It is also possible to provide switching to operation from a conventional switch.

In modern conditions, many devices are produced that make our lives more comfortable and easier. Among them is the cotton switch, which is quite popular among consumers due to its ease of use and affordable price. This device belongs to the class of acoustic sensors that are configured to respond to any loud sound, including clapping your hands.

The acoustic switch itself is inconvenient to use in everyday life as a switch for lights or electrical appliances because it will work with any slight loud blow or rustle (cough, the sound of doors latching, the phone ringing). Using it will only be annoying. This kind of switches are suitable only as a visual aid for physics lessons, showing the dependence of the inclusion of electrical power on sound.

The clap switch is designed specifically to respond only to hand clapping, while completely eliminating unnecessary triggering to any other loud sounds. It is used for quickly remotely turning on and off lighting or other household electrical appliances with simple movements.

It is advisable to install it in quiet rooms, such as a bedroom, basement, pantry, dressing room. Its installation in noisy offices, workshops, and industrial premises is not recommended.

For your information. This innovation will be especially appreciated by children, who sometimes find it difficult to reach a standard switch, and people with disabilities.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of an acoustic switch can be analyzed based on the diagram presented below. The power here comes from a 12 V DC source. The sound enters the microphone, Q1 is the amplifier of this audio signal. The 5k variable resistor acts as a sensitivity regulator. The audio signal from the microphone is then amplified by FET Q1 and turns on the SCR and then the light.

Types of Sound Light Switches

A sound switch is a small, sensitive microphone that is configured to turn lights on or off when it senses sound vibrations. Now there are the following types of these devices:

• Direct switch off sensor. The developers have established a precise signal by which this switch turns on the lighting and performs the opposite action at the next sound. Such a device is mainly attached in parallel with the switch. And when a simple switch is used, the sensor will not operate;
• Sensor in combination with a timer or light sensor. Thanks to this device, the light comes on for a certain period of time, and at high levels of illumination it does not work at all. The presented inexpensive acoustic light switches are now in great demand on elevator platforms and in the entrances of multi-apartment residential buildings;
• Sensor equipped with intelligent control. It can be considered a mini-computer, easily customizable to the user's wishes. Thanks to this equipment, it is possible to easily control several audio devices at once;
• Clap switch for low-current systems (for example, alarms and video surveillance). Here, the lights may not even be turned on, but the sensor, tuned to changes in sound in the building, in the established mode is capable of starting video recording of observations from the recorder or transmitting the received images to the owner.

The advantage of the listed types of devices is additional functions along with lighting control. With this sensor, we not only turn on the lights conveniently, but also save energy.

Such switches also have disadvantages:

• sound selectivity (it is not always possible to produce exactly the sound that is necessary to start working);
• sensitivity zone (in a large room you will have to clap louder or move closer to the sensor).

Specifications

Note! The cotton light switch has very compact overall dimensions, comparable to the size of a matchbox.

The main technical characteristics include:

• mains voltage – 220 V;
• load power – up to 300 W;
• permissible temperature – from - 20°С to +40°С;
• sound vibrations – from 30 to 150 dB;
• housing protection class – IP-30.

Important! Nowadays, most manufactured lighting control switches are compatible not only with incandescent lamps, but also with halogen, fluorescent, and LED lamps.

Types of cotton switch devices

Plug-socket type

A quick solution to the problem of reliably turning household electrical appliances on and off by clap can be provided by a switch in a “plug-socket” type housing or an electrical extension cord with such a built-in device.

Device in housing

This is a universal type that can be used everywhere in residential areas.

Without housing

This type of device is convenient when built into the housing of another electrical appliance. For example, they are often purchased to control a floor fan or chandelier. Due to its compactness, the cotton switch without a housing easily fits into the plastic housing of household appliances.

Breaker safety

According to the manufacturers, such switches are absolutely safe because:

• do not emit radio interference;
• do not heat up;
• the sound of the light switch is not heard;
• protect the electrical network indoors from short circuits (have a fuse in the housing);
• have reliable screw clamp terminals.

Connecting the device

The cotton switch is easy to connect even for an inexperienced electrician; to do this, you need to connect it to a break in the network cable. If we take a chandelier as an example, then you need to connect the wires on the ceiling to the screw terminals marked 220 V, and the two wires of the chandelier itself must be connected to the “Output” screw terminals.

Important! The entire process of connecting the switch necessarily takes place without supplying voltage from the network.

The device will be powered through the existing single-key light switch on the wall. The acoustic switch itself is also turned off by mechanically disconnecting the single-key control element.

Then you should set the desired level of sound sensitivity using the control.

Self-production of the device

It is possible to make a switch with your own hands, but good knowledge of lighting engineering and skills in the field of radio electronics will be useful for this. Let's consider the simplest circuit of an acoustic switch for control.

When assembling, it is imperative to comply with the nominal values ​​of the parts; even minor discrepancies will disrupt the normal operation of the switch.

The following parts are used:

• microphone;
• bipolar transistors KT315 – 2 pcs., on which the microphone amplifier is assembled (other models KT368, SS9018 may also be suitable);
• powerful bipolar transistor KT818 or KT818B - to control the load (for higher power, use a 3.5-15 V relay).

According to the diagram, we find that when the sound of clapping is heard, an impulse is received from the microphone, and a generator based on a composite transistor (KT315 + KT315) with a positive connection to the capacitor starts working. After this, the signal gains strength and passes to the KT818 transistor, and an electric current is conducted that powers the connected load. If the pulse value is negative, the KT818 key is held. When the clap is repeated, the process is interrupted and the relay no longer receives current.

Thus, a cotton switch was obtained with a sensitivity of the resulting device from 2 to 5 meters.

Video

By clapping your hands. The device is suitable both for a children's night light and for lazy people who don't want to get up wrapped up and turn off the light :) One minus of the device is that there are two different power supplies, the MK power supply and the load power supply. If you play with the trimming resistor, the range can reach up to 10 meters without any amplifiers with a capsule microphone. The scheme itself:

Printed circuit board:

All the necessary components are indicated on the printed circuit board, and there should be no questions. We will use as a microcontroller Attiny2313. Let's consider the principle of operation.

When the first clap appears, we record its appearance, start the timer, wait a while for the echo to subside and wait for the next clap to appear. If the next impulse came too early and fell into the red zone, we consider it to be extraneous noise and declare the session erroneous. We stop and reset the timer, reset the variables. If the pulse hits the green zone (the clap waiting zone), we record its occurrence by increasing the value of the variable and wait until the timer overflows and causes an interrupt. If there was silence after the second pulse, then in the timer interrupt handler we will switch the load. If the second clap came too late and fell into the red zone, we will assume that this was also noise. If after the second successful clap, while waiting for the timer to overflow, another impulse appears, we will also assume that this is noise and declare an error.

Discuss the article TURNING ON THE LIGHT BY COTTON

When you need to quickly connect an electrical appliance to a power outlet, which should reliably and accurately turn on and off by clapping your hands, then you just need to buy a clapper switch in a “plug-socket” type housing or an electrical extension cord with a built-in clapper switch. They will allow you to instantly solve the problem. These cotton switches are connected to...

In this section you can buy real cotton switch“CLAPS”, turning the light on and off with a clap! High-quality “CLAPS” clap switches respond even to quiet hand clapping, reliably turn the lighting on and off based on clapping, but do not respond to various extraneous sounds at all!

Sometimes buyers are looking for a ready-made chandelier or table lamp that could be switched on by cotton, but finding and buying such products is not very easy. But this is not the biggest problem - whoever searches will sooner or later find what he needs, as we know. But the problem is that such a lamp will be equipped with a Chinese cotton switch, which can be called a cotton switch only conditionally, since it will be triggered by any sufficiently loud sounds that it will “hear” in the room. That is why most people who managed to buy such a lamp or chandelier will tell you that cotton switch- this is complete nonsense, which cannot be used at all, and they will be absolutely right in their opinion. There is only one BUT! These people know nothing about the fact that for several years now modern cotton switches “CLAPS” have been produced, which do their job amazingly accurately and reliably. Just a few years ago, nothing like this existed at all. Try it and see!

Our store presents different types of cotton switches, all of them have the same (in principle) electronic filling and completely identical control software of the built-in microprocessor. The differences between them are only in the type and appearance of the cases, which allow the use of cotton switches to solve different problems.

Now you don’t need a remote switch with a control panel - this is the last century, the remote control is constantly lost, gets dirty, and the batteries in it need to be changed. It’s easier and more convenient to install a modern cotton switch. If you have been thinking for a long time about where to buy a high-quality acoustic sensor to turn on the light by clapping, dream of purchasing a chandelier or lamp that turns on the light by clapping, or don’t know how to turn the light on and off by clapping with your own hands, then you have found exactly what you need here what you were looking for. The “CLAPS” switch can be added to absolutely any chandelier or any other electrical appliance to turn the load on and off with ordinary clapping.

Many modern lighting systems are equipped with remote control. For this purpose, remote controls are used, as well as signal-type equipment, for example, a clapper switch. In this case, the push to turn it on and off is a sound of sufficient intensity, approximately equal in strength to clapping your hands. Previously, the assembly of such circuits was carried out exclusively by radio amateurs. Currently, audio devices can be purchased freely at most electrical stores.

Cotton light switch

In order to activate such a switch, you just need to clap your hands. As a result, the device will turn on or off. Typically, these devices are installed in rooms with minimal noise levels - in bedrooms, utility rooms, storage rooms, basements, etc. It is not recommended to use cotton switches in noisy places with a lot of people, as excessive noise can reduce the quality of the device. Offices, production sites and workshops are completely unsuitable for installation.

These devices are often confused with acoustic switches. The main difference between them is that the acoustic device is triggered by any noise, and the clap switch is triggered by clap. These devices have proven themselves well in families with small children who cannot reach a regular switch. Now the child just needs to clap his hands to turn the light on or off.

Cotton switch circuit

All clapper switches are installed according to a standard pattern, similar to single or. Some models may have their own individual characteristics, but the general principles remain the same. That is, a single-key device is connected to the network in such a way that it can power the cotton device.

The switch and lamp operate according to the standard scheme. First, through the shield and distribution box, you need to supply power to a regular switch. The neutral wire from the panel is connected to one lamp or group of lamps. The lamps themselves are connected in parallel with the disconnecting device.

The power circuit going to the key switch must be interrupted and connected to the acoustic device. This operation is very simple due to the small size of the device, allowing installation directly on the lamp body. Therefore, there is no need to install additional grooves in the wall.

Each standard switch is equipped with two pairs of wires - white and black. The white wires are connected to the power supply, that is, to the phase and neutral cables from the panel, and the black wires are connected to the load. It is recommended to connect the conductors using conventional twisting or using terminals. In this case, soldering of joints is not used.

Once the connection is complete, the standard key switch is turned on and the operation of the entire system is checked. If necessary, it can be completely removed from the circuit and the power connected directly to the cotton device. All that remains is to configure the device in such a way as to eliminate false alarms from extraneous sounds.

DIY cotton switch

All acoustic or cotton systems have a microphone, which is used to record sound. In addition, the circuit is supplemented with a time relay or a control power relay. In a standard circuit operating with a voltage of 220 V, the signal coming from the microphone is amplified by transistor T1. Next it passes to the resistance matching unit and the emitter follower of transistor T2. A digital chip is used to assemble the trigger and signal comparator.

The main function of the comparator is to protect the switch from acoustic interference, cutting off long or too short sounds. When the signal passes, the trigger state changes to on or off. Thus, the trigger controls the lighting device through a thyristor and a power transistor. A similar circuit can be assembled based on an integrated timer.

Drawing up a diagram will be more convenient if you highlight certain zones on it. They include a transistor microphone amplifier, a comparator on a microcircuit, a trigger, and a transistor that controls a power relay.

You can assemble a clap switch yourself using an Arduino microcontroller. To do this, you will need a sound module board, a power relay and an Arduino Nano. In addition, you will need a computer, a USB cable and a 5-volt power supply. To flash the microcontroller firmware, the Arduino program is installed on the computer.

By changing some of the adjustment parameters of the sound relay, you can fine-tune it. Wiring is connected in the same way as in standard circuits. All that remains is to set the protective threshold against false alarms and interference, and the device is ready for operation.