Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sound Operated Timer

By Pradeep G. He is B.Sc. (Physics) and a regular contributor to international magazines. He is also a small-business owner.

This sound operated timer is based on LM324 quad-operational amplifier and NE555 timer. Time delay can be set from a few seconds to 30 minutes. It can also be used as a sound sensitive burglar alarm.

Sound operated timer circuit and working

Circuit diagram of the sound operated timer is shown in Fig. 1. Output pin 1 of LM324 (IC1) is fed to pin 2 of NE555 (IC2) through capacitor C3. IC2 is configured as a monostable multivibrator. Sound signal, like clapping, sensed by condenser microphone MIC1 is amplified by IC1.

Sound operated timer circuit
Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of the sound operated timer

Amplified signal is fed to trigger pin 2 of IC2. Output pin 3 of IC2 goes high and relay RL1 gets energised for a time delay set by potmeter VR2. Time delay can be set from a few seconds to 30 minutes. Energisation of the relay is indicated by the glowing of LED1.

Relay RL1 is de-energised after the time delay. NE555 can source 200mA current; so, an ordinary relay can be directly connected to IC2’s output without an extra transistor driver. Use a good-quality microphone for maximum sensitivity.

Construction and testing

An actual size, single side PCB layout for the sound operated timer is shown in Fig. 2 and its component layout in Fig. 3. After assembling the circuit on the PCB, enclose it in a suitable plastic box.

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sound operated timer PCB
Fig. 2: Solder-side PCB layout of the sound operated timer
Fig. 3: Component layout of the PCB

Download PCB and component layout PDFs: click here

The circuit needs a 6V-12V DC power supply. When MIC1 captures the sound made by an intruder, RL1 gets energised. An electric lamp may be connected via N/O contacts of RL1 along with a bell or an alarm.


 

8 COMMENTS

  1. i am looking for an electronic regulator for common ceiling fan say from the time i go to sleep i want to set wake up time at which time fan stops as alrams is of no use to me., is it avialable or can be made

    • LM324 is a Single Supply Quad Operational Amplifier.
      Only one amplifier is used here in this project.
      So there is no need to connect pins 5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13 and 14 of IC1?
      Regards

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