The Clapper: Where to Buy
The Clapper is a sound-activated switch that turns lamps, TVs, and small appliances on or off when you clap your hands. Joseph Enterprises, the novelty company behind the Chia Pet, first sold it in 1985, and it remains in production today. Here’s where to buy one, how it works, and when a smart plug makes more sense.
Can You Still Buy The Clapper?
Yes, and it’s easier to find than you’d expect for a gadget nearly 40 years old.
Amazon
Amazon carries the original model with Prime shipping, usually between $15 and $25 depending on the version. Check that it ships from Amazon directly, since third-party sellers sometimes mark up old inventory or sell knockoffs without the sensitivity control.
The Official Store
The maker sells it through chia.com alongside the Chia Pet lineup, often bundled with other novelty gifts around the holidays.
Retail and Gift Shops
Walmart, seasonal pop-up shops, and as-seen-on-TV stores frequently carry it, often on the shelf near the Flex Shot or OxiClean displays. Availability swings by location, so call ahead.
How Two Claps Flip the Lights
The Clapper plugs into a standard AC wall outlet in the United States and gives you two switched receptacles. Its built-in sensor listens for a clap pattern: two claps toggle the first outlet, three the second.
A sharp strike of the palms works best. Snapping your fingers won’t set it off, because the circuit is tuned to that rhythm, not to any single loud noise. Think of it as an electrical light switch with a microphone where the toggle used to be.
Setup Tips That Prevent False Triggers
Most complaints about the device trace back to placement and the sensitivity dial on its side, not a defect.
- Turn the sensitivity down first. If the television or a barking dog trips it, lower the dial.
- Keep it away from speakers. A spot behind a TV stand or soundbar is the noisiest place in the room.
- Mind the load. Each outlet handles up to 150 watts: fine for a radio or holiday lights, not a space heater or coffee maker.
- Expect an LED quirk. Very low-wattage LED bulbs can flicker or glow faintly with this kind of circuit. A dimmer-compatible bulb usually settles it.
The Clapper vs. Smart Plugs and Wi-Fi Switches
Smart plugs from TP-Link, Amazon, and Google Nest add voice control, scheduling, and remote control from a phone over Wi-Fi. The 1980s design needs no app, no network, no account, and no firmware updates. That simplicity is the whole case for it: an older relative who won’t learn Alexa routines, or a cabin with no internet, gets a working fix at a fraction of a smart-home setup’s cost. Already run a connected home? The app-based option does more.
| Factor | Clap-on unit | Wi-Fi smart plug |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Outlet, then dial setting | App, account, Wi-Fi pairing |
| How you operate it | Hand claps within earshot | Phone, voice, schedules |
| Internet needed | No | Yes, for remote access |
| Privacy | No account or data | Cloud account usually required |
From Late-Night TV Ad to a 2018 Film
“Clap on! Clap off!” ranks among the most quoted infomercial catchphrases in TV history, and the jingle ran so often through the late 1980s and 1990s that it crossed into sitcom gags. The old commercial video still circulates online and is worth a watch beside other 80s infomercials.
In 2018, a comedy film titled The Clapper reached theaters. Directed by Dito Montiel and set in Hollywood, Los Angeles, it stars Ed Helms as Eddie Krumble, a paid audience member for infomercials whose life unravels after a talk show host exposes his side gig. Amanda Seyfried, Tracy Morgan, Leah Remini, and Adam Levine round out the cast. Reviews were mixed, but the film kept the brand familiar decades after its patent was first filed.
If clap-on lighting is all you need, buy The Clapper from Amazon or chia.com, keep it away from the speakers, and set the sensitivity dial on night one. If you want schedules or away-from-home access, go with a Wi-Fi outlet instead. For how other gadgets from the era hold up, see whether as-seen-on-TV products actually work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Clapper still being made?
Yes. Its maker still produces and sells it through Amazon, chia.com, and select retail stores.
Does it work with LED bulbs?
It works with any light or appliance that uses a standard electrical cord and draws under 150 watts per outlet. Most LED bulbs fall well within that limit.
Can other sounds trigger it accidentally?
Loud, sharp sounds can sometimes activate it. The built-in sensitivity dial helps reduce false triggers from TV audio, pets, or slamming doors. Placing it away from the television also helps.