Cheapest way to automate some blinds?! - couldn't post in bl

Hi all,
Thought I was going to be the first to post in the blinds forum but no 'new post' button!

So Looking to automate some basic horizontal blinds, the ones where you have string that you pull to make them ascend or descen (would have to collect this on a spool) and a stick that can twirl around to change the angle.

Not worried about the angle side of things but i'd like to automate the up and down side of things and ideally have it controlled by indigo.

I've looked around and there's a few projects and some expensive ways of doing it but wondered if anyone here has done something similar on the cheap?

Happy to get stuck in with servo's etc if needs be.

I've got both wave and lightwave rf with an rfxtrx433e so that's an option too.

Mods, if you can move this to the correct place then that'd be great!

Cheers

Noel

I've been playing with various 12v motors for tilt control and rasing the blinds. The tilt control has proven easier than lifting (not that I've got that working as I'd like yet) but the problem I have with lifting is lack of room in the head rail for the wound up cord. That said my blinds are only 25mm so if yours are bigger you'd likely have more room to play with.


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I'd happily have the motor low down below the window ledge to be honest as there's space and options to do that discreetly, IE this is at the low end where the string dangles.

What I can't quite get my head round however is how to handle the 'pull to the left to release and pull to the right to stop' mechanism.

If the motor or spindle could hold the weight of the blind when up then I could simply use the pull to the left side all the time but that would require the string to be held at the top!

What I can't quite get my head round however is how to handle the 'pull to the left to release and pull to the right to stop' mechanism.

If the motor or spindle could hold the weight of the blind when up then I could simply use the pull to the left side all the time but that would require the string to be held at the top!

On mine I've removed that whole mechanism and had it just pulled up by the motor and its gears. However it's only a small test blind so I, not sure how well it'll work when I try it on a larger blind. And of course it'll have more string. I've not done much like this before so it's quite a learning process.

Do you still want manual control of the blind?

This is only a small blind so hopefully not too bad

More than happy to ditch manual control, technology never fails after all

I've a wierd curtain motor thing on X10 that I never carried on with.

It's a motor that you insert in the bottom of the cord loop. Apply power and it moves one way to its limiter and stops. You remove power then reapply to get it to move the other way, etc. It's default state should be no power applied.

It's clunky and I gave up with it.


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Was it one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252329964665

Ah...

It's the same body as in the picture, but mine is not RF/keyfob controlled.

They must have upgraded the electronics.


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For £35 and the fact that it works with light wave rf I'm quite tempted to give it a go, not sure how to mount it with the strings etc

Anyone seen any alternatives I should be considering?

Thanks for the links guys

Just had a response from the Ebay chap to say it won't support Venetian blinds, shame as that would have been spot on!

Yeah, he has plans for one that does but is a few months off apparently.

@howartp, would you sell your old one? I have one that I've damaged and need a few spare parts from

I'll have to dig it out if I can find it.


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That's the butler add-a-motor.

I've had a couple break internally on me in the past - this is the part that seems to fail ...
https://www.intellihome.be/en/add-a-motor-80-drive-axle.html

-- Paul --

Oh cool thanks for the link! That said I think I need a couple of bits so if howartp can find his I might just get it instead.

I've been keeping an eye on these and waiting to see how they turn out.

Move