Custom Clap On Light Circut Help

[JckTek]

Hi I am totally new to electronics and i was trying to find some guidance on mow to make a Clap on/Clap off light for my friend who's birthday is coming up( strange gift but he's really been wanting one). I know that there is the "Clapper" available but the amount of malfunctioning and hazards it imposes aren't something I'd like to give as a gift.
However, I did find a small switch board designed to be activated by clapping. It has a rating of 24v and I was wondering how I could possibly make it work with a 120v light. I know I'd have to use some sort of relay. The hard part seems to be that the board requires a 12v power adapter, but there could be more to it. I would like to hide it in a wall switch box where the light can also be controlled manually with the normal switch, but I don't know much about anything like this. If you could help me devise a circuit on how to make this work I would be very grateful.
Thanks, Jack

Link to the Clap on board: http://www.vetco.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1543&gclid=CMDN6ObrkLsCFaE1Qgod-TYAZg

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Hi Jack and welcome to Electronics Point

That clap detector looks reasonable. You can find more information on the Velleman web site: http://www.velleman.eu/support/downloads/?code=MK139

There are several issues you will have to overcome.

First, the board is probably too big to fit inside a wall switch recess. Also for safety reasons, it should not be put near to AC mains wiring. But the microphone needs to be exposed to the sound inside the room. You can move the microphone off the board using some screened audio cable, but you should keep the distance to less than a metre. Ideally it would be nice to mount the microphone in the switch plate, but it may be illegal to modify the switch plate.

Second, that board is not designed to switch mains voltages directly. If you want to switch mains voltages, you should use an external relay. This relay will need to be properly mounted somewhere so it cannot move and allow AC voltages to short onto anything.

Third, it needs a 12V DC power source. You can buy AC-to-DC adapters for this. The current consumption is relatively low - 150 mA (0.15 amps) plus about 50 mA for the relay coil. But you will still need somewhere to put this adapter.

Fourth, it may be illegal, and/or unsafe, for you to work on AC mains wiring, especially in-wall wiring, unless you have the appropriate qualifications and experience. It may also have implications for your friend's fire insurance policy, which could be the most important problem.

What do you think?