Personal Applause Sign
![blink.gif](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBR/WYRZ/GB5HE3FX/FBRWYRZGB5HE3FX.gif&filename=blink.gif)
![main2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQS/2W4H/GBB7H29F/FQS2W4HGBB7H29F.jpg&filename=main2.jpg)
![main.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNY/14AI/GBB7H1KT/FNY14AIGBB7H1KT.jpg&filename=main.jpg)
From that moment on, it became clear to me that I had to make my own light up "APPLAUSE" sign that I could wirelessly trigger whenever the moment necessitated a round of admiration. And let me tell you, it works like a charm. You can get people to applaud you for almost anything.
I feel that this notion is really catching on. People are always asking me how they can make their own applause sign. There is a much larger admiration deficit in this world than I had initially anticipated. So, as a community service, I am sharing how people can make their own personal applause sign and seek the blind adulation they so rightly deserve.
(Obligatory Warning: This project uses high voltages and power tools. Consult professionals when in doubt. I take no responsibility for any of the information here or what you do with it! Proceed at your own risk.)
Go Get Stuff
![1a.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHT/JGIJ/G9PQHLMH/FHTJGIJG9PQHLMH.jpg&filename=1a.jpg)
3' x 4' sheet of 3/4" playwood
36" x 5.5" x 1/8" mirror acrylic
36" x 5.5" x 1/8" milky white acrylic
Black acrylic paint
Black house paint
Fine paint brushes
House paint brushes
Quick release clamps
1-1/4" wood screws
3/4" wood screws
A power drill and bits
5 amp puck relay
6 lamp sockets
6 40 watt round bulbs
Power junction box
Power socket
Heavy gauge lamp cord
Wireless doorbell
Arduino programmer
PCB
7805 5V regulator
3V regulator
(x2) heat sinks
22pF capacitors
16 MHZ crystal
Atmega168 chip
28 pin socket
Momentary switch
100uF capacitor
Audio isolator transformer
(x2) 1K resistor
A 4148 diode
0.1uF capacitor
9V battery connector
9V battery
Lamp cord
Wire nuts
4.5V adapter
Cable organizers
End caps
Wood putty
A putty knife
Sandpaper
15' 3-prong extension cord
Cut Boards to Size
![3a.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYP/ALN5/G9NH8SZD/FYPALN5G9NH8SZD.jpg&filename=3a.jpg)
![3b.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F55/UL6C/G9NHGU2T/F55UL6CG9NHGU2T.jpg&filename=3b.jpg)
![3c.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9K/Z1RE/G9NHGU2U/F9KZ1REG9NHGU2U.jpg&filename=3c.jpg)
![3D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FX4/CR8D/G9NGTVS0/FX4CR8DG9NGTVS0.jpg&filename=3D.jpg)
![3e.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FID/PK53/G9NGTVS1/FIDPK53G9NGTVS1.jpg&filename=3e.jpg)
While you're at it, you may as well cut two 5.5" x 5.5" squares.
Cut Channels
![2a.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQN/TRG4/G9NGTVRX/FQNTRG4G9NGTVRX.jpg&filename=2a.jpg)
![2b.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9D/F83J/G9PQHLMN/F9DF83JG9PQHLMN.jpg&filename=2b.jpg)
![2c.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIV/J8XA/G9PQHLMS/FIVJ8XAG9PQHLMS.jpg&filename=2c.jpg)
Clamp your board to a work surface. Next clamp a guide parallel to one edge, such that you will cut the channel 1/2" in from that edge. Set your saw to cut 1/4" deep and make the cut.
Repeat on the second board.
Start the Box
![4a.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTC/01BT/G9NGTVS2/FTC01BTG9NGTVS2.jpg&filename=4a.jpg)
![4b.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FU3/J4TL/G9NGTVS3/FU3J4TLG9NGTVS3.jpg&filename=4b.jpg)
![4c.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F22/TU7Y/G9NH8SZE/F22TU7YG9NH8SZE.jpg&filename=4c.jpg)
![4d.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYO/WXX3/G9PQHLOX/FYOWXX3G9PQHLOX.jpg&filename=4d.jpg)
![4e.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEI/XKIH/G9NHGU2Y/FEIXKIHG9NHGU2Y.jpg&filename=4e.jpg)
Repeat this process on the opposite side, forming a U-shape.
Finish the Box
![5A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FE4/68AW/G9NHGU32/FE468AWG9NHGU32.jpg&filename=5A.jpg)
Clamp, drill pilot holes and then fasten with wood screws.
Laser Etch the Sign
![6A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F69/POD1/G9NHGU33/F69POD1G9NHGU33.jpg&filename=6A.jpg)
While you're at it, vector cut the mirror acrylic with the file below called applauseMirrorcut. Don't forget that the reflective side must absolutely be face down.
Paint the Sign
![7E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZJ/PYGC/G9PQHLT4/FZJPYGCG9PQHLT4.jpg&filename=7E.jpg)
![7B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYL/5X54/G9NH8SZL/FYL5X54G9NH8SZL.jpg&filename=7B.jpg)
![7C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8B/BIFP/G9PQHLSK/F8BBIFPG9PQHLSK.jpg&filename=7C.jpg)
![7D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFC/A234/G9PQHLSU/FFCA234G9PQHLSU.jpg&filename=7D.jpg)
![7A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDH/T6V3/G9NH8SZK/FDHT6V3G9NH8SZK.jpg&filename=7A.jpg)
An easy way to check this is to peel off the protective coat from the backside and hold the sign up to a light bulb and see if you can see through the paint. Keep applying coats of paint until you can't.
Clean Up Imperfections
![8A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCA/OOTH/G9PQHLZ4/FCAOOTHG9PQHLZ4.jpg&filename=8A.jpg)
![8B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F74/6TDO/G9NH8T13/F746TDOG9NH8T13.jpg&filename=8B.jpg)
![8C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4S/RLNY/G9NH8T14/F4SRLNYG9NH8T14.jpg&filename=8C.jpg)
![8D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDD/H1Q5/G9NH8T16/FDDH1Q5G9NH8T16.jpg&filename=8D.jpg)
Take Apart the Doorbell
![9A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F6M/Y2YO/G9NH8T18/F6MY2YOG9NH8T18.jpg&filename=9A.jpg)
![9B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGR/OANI/G9NGTVSM/FGROANIG9NGTVSM.jpg&filename=9B.jpg)
![9C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4J/869R/G9PQHM06/F4J869RG9PQHM06.jpg&filename=9C.jpg)
![9D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F62/DJIK/G9NGTVSN/F62DJIKG9NGTVSN.jpg&filename=9D.jpg)
![9E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8B/KPJ9/G9NHGU4S/F8BKPJ9G9NHGU4S.jpg&filename=9E.jpg)
Don't lose the screws (like I did).
Prepare the Ringer Casing
![10A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5K/DBFI/GAA12QKO/F5KDBFIGAA12QKO.jpg&filename=10A.jpg)
![10B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGD/ZPL5/GAA0X7TG/FGDZPL5GAA0X7TG.jpg&filename=10B.jpg)
![10C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FWO/NWPM/GAA12QKV/FWONWPMGAA12QKV.jpg&filename=10C.jpg)
![10D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FN6/JE4E/GAFDTCD0/FN6JE4EGAFDTCD0.jpg&filename=10D.jpg)
![10E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0U/YB4Z/GAFDTCDS/F0UYB4ZGAFDTCDS.jpg&filename=10E.jpg)
Drill Holes
![11A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FPG/G1TX/GAA12QNH/FPGG1TXGAA12QNH.jpg&filename=11A.jpg)
![11B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVK/ZX34/GAFDTCEU/FVKZX34GAFDTCEU.jpg&filename=11B.jpg)
Also drill a 3/4" hole through the case below where the power junction box attaches (in the next step).
Attach Things
![12A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHF/4N8K/GAA0X7UH/FHF4N8KGAA0X7UH.jpg&filename=12A.jpg)
![12B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FN2/5ZK6/GAFDTCFL/FN25ZK6GAFDTCFL.jpg&filename=12B.jpg)
![12C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDT/3228/GAFDTCFP/FDT3228GAFDTCFP.jpg&filename=12C.jpg)
![12D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F28/FVHK/GAA0X7UL/F28FVHKGAA0X7UL.jpg&filename=12D.jpg)
Wire It Up
![13A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FE8/IPC6/GAA0EWJQ/FE8IPC6GAA0EWJQ.jpg&filename=13A.jpg)
![13B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F15/85C8/GAA0EWJT/F1585C8GAA0EWJT.jpg&filename=13B.jpg)
Have a few inches of cord sticking off the end closest to the wireless doorbell box.
Paint It Black
![14A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FA4/09D7/GB5HDWRF/FA409D7GB5HDWRF.jpg&filename=14A.jpg)
![14B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4B/QIQW/GBF5KSU1/F4BQIQWGBF5KSU1.jpg&filename=14B.jpg)
![14C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUC/LXK6/GBB7GQWW/FUCLXK6GBB7GQWW.jpg&filename=14C.jpg)
![14D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1Z/4574/GB5HDWRL/F1Z4574GB5HDWRL.jpg&filename=14D.jpg)
![14E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FS8/UL07/GB5HDWRP/FS8UL07GB5HDWRP.jpg&filename=14E.jpg)
![14F.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUK/EQHE/GBB7GQXU/FUKEQHEGBB7GQXU.jpg&filename=14F.jpg)
Wire Up the Socket
![15A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1M/E6J0/GB5HDWVZ/F1ME6J0GB5HDWVZ.jpg&filename=15A.jpg)
![15B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNX/WSMK/GB3XK4YW/FNXWSMKGB3XK4YW.jpg&filename=15B.jpg)
![15C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F21/GTS1/GB3XK4YX/F21GTS1GB3XK4YX.jpg&filename=15C.jpg)
![15D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FXA/GH9Z/GB3XK4ZC/FXAGH9ZGB3XK4ZC.jpg&filename=15D.jpg)
![15E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZY/HAVX/GB5HDWW3/FZYHAVXGB5HDWW3.jpg&filename=15E.jpg)
![15F.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIM/8TZE/GB5HDWW4/FIM8TZEGB5HDWW4.jpg&filename=15F.jpg)
Wire up the socket such that the white cord goes to one terminal, the black to another terminal and the green to ground. Secure the socket into the junction box.
Build the Circuit
![16A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMO/N2WV/GBB7GR3W/FMON2WVGBB7GR3W.jpg&filename=16A.jpg)
![16B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1A/Y311/GB3XK50X/F1AY311GB3XK50X.jpg&filename=16B.jpg)
![16C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F35/V4R0/GB3XK50Y/F35V4R0GB3XK50Y.jpg&filename=16C.jpg)
![16D.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQR/KU7Y/GB5HDWXW/FQRKU7YGB5HDWXW.jpg&filename=16D.jpg)
![16E.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FPL/BJYL/GBB7GR4G/FPLBJYLGBB7GR4G.jpg&filename=16E.jpg)
![16F.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FID/4B91/GBF5KT0Z/FID4B91GBF5KT0Z.jpg&filename=16F.jpg)
![16G.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FMW/2LBS/GBF5KT17/FMW2LBSGBF5KT17.jpg&filename=16G.jpg)
![sch1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4I/J17U/GBB7H254/F4IJ17UGBB7H254.jpg&filename=sch1.jpg)
![sch2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4V/K22B/GB3XKB11/F4VK22BGB3XKB11.jpg&filename=sch2.jpg)
![sch3.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FS1/YSLR/GB3XKB25/FS1YSLRGB3XKB25.jpg&filename=sch3.jpg)
![sch4.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGT/49O4/GB5HE3TN/FGT49O4GB5HE3TN.jpg&filename=sch4.jpg)
Cut the speaker off of your wireless doorbell receiver. Leave as much wire connected to the receiver as you can.
Wire that as analog in to the Arduino. See the schematic for what parts are necessary for this and what wires go where.
Program the Arduino with the following code (source file attached below):
*
*
* Based on:
* http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knock
*/
int relayPin = 13; // led connected to control pin 13
int ringDetect = 0; // the knock sensor will be plugged at analog pin 0
byte val = 0; // variable to store the value read from the sensor pin
int statePin = LOW; // variable used to store the last LED status, to toggle the light
int THRESHOLD = 50; // threshold value to decide when the detected sound is a knock or not
void setup() {
pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT); // declare the ledPin as as OUTPUT
Serial.begin(9600); // use the serial port
}
void loop() {
val = analogRead(ringDetect); // read the sensor and store it in the variable "val"
if (val >= THRESHOLD) {
digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // turn the led on or off
delay(8000);
digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW); // turn the led on or off
}
delay(100); // we have to make a delay to avoid overloading the serial port
}
Downloads
Wire the Relay
![17A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQK/RBMM/GB3XK520/FQKRBMMGB3XK520.jpg&filename=17A.jpg)
![17B.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FF5/HHZM/GB5HDWZ2/FF5HHZMGB5HDWZ2.jpg&filename=17B.jpg)
![17C.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNZ/LVA9/GBB7GR5J/FNZLVA9GBB7GR5J.jpg&filename=17C.jpg)
Connect one of the lamp wires coming from the sockets to one side of the AC portion of the relay and connect one of the terminals from your AC power cord to the other side.
Twist together the free lamp cord with the free wire from the power cord. Twist on a wire nut to keep them insulated and secure.
Clean It Up
![18A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FA7/WJKR/GBB7GR5M/FA7WJKRGBB7GR5M.jpg&filename=18A.jpg)
Organize the wires and fasten them to case.
Install and secure the rest of the electronics.
Slide in Sign
![19A.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZT/7QZK/GBF5KZIJ/FZT7QZKGBF5KZIJ.jpg&filename=19A.jpg)
Hang the Sign (optional)
![main.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNY/14AI/GBB7H1KT/FNY14AIGBB7H1KT.jpg&filename=main.jpg)