Motorized Blinds

[drozwood90]

Ok, I am now getting very settled into my new house.

The MIL (Mom-In-Law) wants to get us hanging venetian blinds for the sliding glass door for X-mas gift.

Wife wants to pick some out. I told her to see what she likes, but I wanted to reserve final say as I want to motorize it.

So, to the question. What is a good system?

I see there are Add-A-Motors, which work by just pulling the chain / rope Click Here. There are X10 boxes for "easy" connection to my automation system Click here. There are also track replacements Click Here.

I also want to make mention, that the Add-a-motor is designed for draperies...so I would probably have to buy two of them (one for the twist of the blinds, one for the drawing back). So I would have to make sure that the venetian blinds are "dual" pull string.

There are also "Power ease" devices on ebay (maybe).

I also know that there are "higher" level more professional controllers...they cost more...but I'm willing to spend the extra $$ for less problems (pointing to my experience using X10, then switching to UPB).

I don't have any issue with the interface being custom, or hardwired. It does NOT have to be X10 / UPB compatible, so long as I can wire it into my system somehow (even if I need to make a circuit).

What are you using? What would you suggest for me to look at? Something like the add a motor would be nice as my wife can pick ANY blind she wants and I can just "add" on.

Thanks ahead of time!

--Dan

 

[TonyNo]

If you can find them, I would highly recommend the PowerEase units. I've been using them since they came out without issue (except for changing batteries). One of these days I'll come up with a good way to get power to them.

 

[SnyperBob]

If you can find them, I would highly recommend the PowerEase units. I've been using them since they came out without issue (except for changing batteries). One of these days I'll come up with a good way to get power to them.

You could build your own, if you wanted to go this route:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-A-Mo...roller-For-Les/

 

[felixrosbergen]

Has anybody used 'Bali' brand blinds? They have a Controlmate system that is IR/battery based but has hardwired power options. It's only to tilt the blinds which is all i really want. The unit goes into the head rail and is invisble...

 

[drozwood90]

Has anybody used 'Bali' brand blinds? They have a Controlmate system that is IR/battery based but has hardwired power options. It's only to tilt the blinds which is all i really want. The unit goes into the head rail and is invisble...

I was looking at those over at Lowes. Seemed like a good price / deal, and you can get them for the "sealed" style that do not let ANY light in.

My issue is, I really want something for vertical blinds...I've been looking at Somfy...which appear to make motors that will retrofit on almost ANY kind of blinds out there.

Even the rotate THEN retract for vertical blinds!

If you get the Bali, let me know how you like them...as for the Window blinds, I'm still tettering back and forth as to what I want to get. For the Vertical...I think I'm going to end up with a Somfy motor on a regular vertical blinds. I was also looking at the Hunter Douglas styles...they have some with integrated motors...I'm just not sure if the wife will like it or not.

Oh well, off to find a dealer!

--Dan

 

[felixrosbergen]

We were looking at the Hunter Douglas Silhouette style....but found them terribly expensive...

 

[JohnWPB]

Has anybody used 'Bali' brand blinds? They have a Controlmate system that is IR/battery based but has hardwired power options. It's only to tilt the blinds which is all i really want. The unit goes into the head rail and is invisble...

I was looking at those over at Lowes. Seemed like a good price / deal, and you can get them for the "sealed" style that do not let ANY light in.

This caught my attention when I read the " "sealed" style that do not let ANY light in" Do you have any more information on these? I did a search for Bali at Lowes.com and got zero results, sorted by brand, and Bali was not listed at all. Was it Bali you were referring to with the "sealed" blinds?

I have wood blinds in the living room now, and they look great, but when the sun hits that side of the house for 75% of the day, even when closed, give the wonder "venetian reflection" on the TV.

 

[Frunple]

Has anybody used 'Bali' brand blinds? They have a Controlmate system that is IR/battery based but has hardwired power options. It's only to tilt the blinds which is all i really want. The unit goes into the head rail and is invisble...

I was looking at those over at Lowes. Seemed like a good price / deal, and you can get them for the "sealed" style that do not let ANY light in.

This caught my attention when I read the " "sealed" style that do not let ANY light in" Do you have any more information on these? I did a search for Bali at Lowes.com and got zero results, sorted by brand, and Bali was not listed at all. Was it Bali you were referring to with the "sealed" blinds?

I have wood blinds in the living room now, and they look great, but when the sun hits that side of the house for 75% of the day, even when closed, give the wonder "venetian reflection" on the TV.

I would guess he meant these.

 

[drozwood90]

John,

I am sorry, I left my PDA at home today...

I wrote down all the pertinent information. I think they were called Bali Lightblockers...or something to that effect.

Although, when I looked them up, that name is aluminum...which is NOT what I was looking at.

What I was looking at, was wood, without ANY cords running through it, which aided in keeping out the light.

The next feature they had was the slats were NOT flat. They were slightly rounded, which made them touch better. From the demo that they had at the Lowes by my house, if you shined the light on it from behind, it actually appeared to keep out almost all the light. At least MORE then any other blind I've ever seen.

They also came with a motor (for us automation nuts!).

I can't remember if this was the one that had a slight lip on the back side (slight lip in an "upward" direction), which again, forced the slats to touch and "seal.

We were going to get the blinds such that they would fit IN the window's inset to the wall, then my wife was then going to just put some curtain type thing (but it didn't close...I think it's called a valance with some draping cloth) to block any light that might come in from the edges. IN essence, we would be only getting a minor amount of light reflecting from between the cloth and the blind.

I'll post as soon as I know something.

--Dan

 

[drozwood90]

So...I got a quote from www.motorizedsolutions.com

They wanted over $1060 for 78" wide track. That's a TRACK, no slats! I had to buy them myself! + shipping!

WHA!!

Then I found this website:
http://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/1/...er-douglas.html

Total price, with motor for the Somner by Hunter Douglas (slats and motor!).
$364.13

So, looks like that's where my $$ is going for my vertical blinds.

I'm going to see what Lowes wants (again) for the Bali blinds...but I'm strongly thinking I'm going to see if that Stevesblindsandwallapaper.com has my horizontal blinds (with motor). If his prices are reasonable, I'll order the whole she-bang from him!

--Dan

 

[drozwood90]

I just found my note from Lowes.

Nite Guard or Night Guard. That's what you want to get.

That and the Lightblocker option. The Light Blocker Option has NO holes through the flaps. This aids in keeping light form coming in through the holes.

The first option basically puts a small 90 degree LIP on the back side of the flap. This makes it so that when you close the shade, the lip touches the flap that is above it. This tries to ENSURE that no light is allowed in between the flaps (as the flaps can only close so far due to having to be held in place by something).

HTH

--Dan