Determination of the reliability of a locally made clap activated switch by part count analysis

In this research work, the reliability of a locally designed and constructed clap activated switch was determined. The sound of clap is detected by a small condenser microphone. The microphone transduces the sound wave to electrical waves which is further amplified by transistor connected in the common emitter configuration. The amplified output from the transistor is then fed to the Bistable Multivibrator circuit. The part count method which assumes typical operating conditions of part or components complexity, ambient temperature, various electrical stresses, operation mode and environment (called reference conditions) was used for the estimation of the reliability of the Clap Activation Switch. It is observed that the reliability of the Clap Activated Switch constructed locally have an estimated reliability that ranges between 0.99706 for the first year of operation to 0.94299 around the twentieth year of operation. Further work can be done by evaluating the reliability of the device using part stress analysis; this will enable the determination of the reliability under actual operating conditions to be carried out.