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Clap Operated Toy Car Circuit

Last Updated on February 23, 2018 by Swag (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/author/swag/)

In this post we study how to make a simple clap operated toy car circuit using a clap switch circuit and a MIC
amplifier, to control its forward and reverse movements,  in response to the claps of the user. The idea was
requested by Mr, Zeeshan.

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Clap Sound Controlled Toy Car

Sir,
I am in urgent and very much need of a circuit diagram. I need a circuit of a toy car which goes forward and
reverse on the sound of clap . A er switching on, car goes forward ( motor rotate clockwise).

A er a clap sound car goes reverse( motor rotate anti clock wise). and vise versa.
In other words, toy motor change it's rotation from clockwise to anti clockwise and vise versa by clap sound. If
possible make it using 3 or less pencil aaa cells.

If yes please help me by providing me so.

Thanks
Thanks
zeeshan
Delhi

Circuit Design
The above requested idea of a clap operated toy car circuit can be implemented using the following simple circuit:

(https://homemade-circuits.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/clap2Bmotor.png)

The circuit is made up three basic stages: the MIC amplifier (https://homemade-circuits.com/2016/07/how-
electret-microphone-works.html) stage, the opamp comparator stage and an IC 4017 based flip flop stage
(https://homemade-circuits.com/2011/12/build-these-simple-flip-flop-circuits.html).

The IC 741 is configured as a comparator (https://homemade-circuits.com/2012/03/how-to-use-ic-741-as-

comparator.html) and together with the IC 4017 it forms a basic clap operated switch circuit. (https://homemade-
circuits.com/2011/12/make-simple-electronic-clap-switch.html)

The BC557/BC547 constitutes the MIC amplifier circuit, we have used two transistors here to make the design
highly sensitive to the clap sounds.

Whenever a clap sound or any similar sound is detected by the MIC, it instantly conducts and causes a low signal
across its leads enabling the BC557 to trigger.

BC557 triggering forces the BC547 to conduct even harder and in the course brings the pin#2 of IC 741 to ground
level or lower than the pin#3 reference pin of the IC. This action enables the opamp output to go high causing a
positive trigger for the 4017 input pin#14.

The above functioning forces the IC 4017 to change states across its output pins #2 and pin#3 alternately with
The above functioning forces the IC 4017 to change states across its output pins #2 and pin#3 alternately with
every clap sound detection.

The output from the IC 4017 can be seen connected with a relay driver stage consisting of a DPDT relay with its
dual contacts configured with the toy car motors, and the supply rails.

The flip flop action from the IC 4017 output toggles the relay contacts across their N/C and N/O points, thereby
causing the car motor to correspondingly rotate in cock-wise and anticlockwise directions in response to the
subsequent clap sounds, and thus the car is able to move forward or backward accordingly.

In order to make this clap operated toy circuit make sure to wire the indicated relay contacts across both the
motors of the car which may be attached at the front of the rear sides of the unit, and must have a gear box
configured with the wheels.

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Comments
Shiva Kumar B says
March 15, 2018 at 7:00 am (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-59098)
Doubt abt. Transistor BC557
Sir , in place of BC 557 transistor can we use BC547
& What’s main di erence bw them

Reply

Swag (https://homemade-circuits.com/) says

March 15 2018 at 8:57 am (https://www homemade circuits com/clap operated toy car
 March 15, 2018 at 8:57 am (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-59100)
Shiva, you can try it, make sure to connect the emitter towards the base of the other BC547

Reply

Tapan Patil (https://www.blogger.com/profile/16612625433984734373) says

January 29, 2017 at 1:46 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-48470)
hellow sir i want to make a home automation system as my last year project please refer me one and your
website is fandastic one

Reply

Swagatam (https://www.blogger.com/profile/13783312838408713408) says

January 30, 2017 at 3:41 am (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-48486)
Thank you tapan, presently I do not have a full-fledged home automation circuit, possibly I'll try
to present one soon,

Reply

rupet the genius (https://www.blogger.com/profile/05012352068637798324) says

January 26, 2017 at 2:32 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-48382)
4017 is wrong! it should e a 4013 type flip/flop

Reply
dean (https://www.blogger.com/profile/03387742735914255005) says
January 24, 2017 at 9:04 pm (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-48319)
Swagatam – I'm looking for a timer circuit. The type that is used in electronic candles (and christmas
decorations) to turn them on 4-5 hours and then o 20-19 hours. Then repeat that on/o cycle everyday.
Those electronic candle circuits are small, about the size of a US dime, and can handle 3 to 6VDC. Am not

asking you to design one – if you have a similar one in your list…just point me towards it. Love your web
site !!

Reply
 Swagatam (https://www.blogger.com/profile/13783312838408713408) says
January 25, 2017 at 3:04 am (https://www.homemade-circuits.com/clap-operated-toy-car-
circuit/#comment-48321)
thanks dean, I think you can try the following concept, you can use SMD parts to make it really
compact:

https://homemade-circuits.com/2012/04/how-to-make-simple-programmable-timer.html
(https://homemade-circuits.com/2012/04/how-to-make-simple-programmable-timer.html)

Reply

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