Smart Blinds - thoughts?

SelfBuild2019 · 20-08-2021 11:19am #1

We are currently in the process of a house build, and I have an opportunity to get smart blinds in at a very reasonable price. This opportunity only came about in the past few months, so we hadn't planned for these at the outset. We can't recess them into a reveal at this stage, and we have a couple of smaller windows in our large open plan room that are tilt & turn, and tilt in. We also have a large 3 piece slider, and 2 large fixed windows in this room, so the blinds would be ideal for those, but the tilt and turns are now causing me to have doubts about the whole thing.

We have wired for them, but I'm not sure are we going a bit OTT by getting them in. We will also be putting in ceiling speakers and some smart lighting, which I'm happy with, but given I'm not a tech head by any means, am I just drawing problems on myself? As someone said to me, it's just more things that can go wrong by getting them in!

I'm just looking to get people's experience with them in general? The system we are looking at is Lutron, which is pretty high end as far as i know.

Thanks

ted1 · 31-08-2021 11:43am

I converted my ikea blinds to smart by buying a smart motor of aliexpress, just 45 euro. smrt blinds are great, have them on a timer so they open and close automatically and thus wake the kids.

highly recommend them

Raoul · 29-09-2021 1:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117827411#Comment_117827411

Any link to the smart motor?

ted1 · 29-09-2021 1:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954316#Comment_117954316

These ones:

€ 53,01 56％ Off | Zemismart Tuya WiFi Roller Shade Motor for 17mm 25mm Tube Built-in Battery Smart Life Blind Engine Alexa Google Home Alice Work

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtEDGkw

they've gone up. Going to order more shortly ( when there’s an offer)

Pomodoro · 29-09-2021 1:46pm

I wouldn't have too much faith in "Zemismart", or any other obscure brand, keeping their software up to date and secure going forward.

For smart homes, make sure it will work as well as a "dumb" blind when the internet is down, or when the smart device vendor inevitably drops software support for them

ted1 · 29-09-2021 1:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954443#Comment_117954443

There’s a remote control that works directly with them , and it works with the smart life and Tuya apps. This are two of the biggest apps for smart devices

they are using the ZIGBEE protocol so pretty much work with all IOT

your concerns aren’t justified, there is a much higher chance of somfy going tits up.

Krusty_Clown · 30-09-2021 9:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954497#Comment_117954497

Same as. Using Zenismart via Tuya also, for three downstairs large blinds. Did receive a couple of duds, but had no significant issues getting a refund from AliExpress. To be honest, two of the blinds never previously got closed as the cords were in awkward locations, but now, a quick holler of the google routine trigger words and they all pop open in the morning, and close at night. Wouldn't look back.

OP: get the solution that works best for you, but make sure they can be operated manually if the mechanism fails.

newbie2 · 22-10-2021 5:01pm

I'm hoping to get some of these from ali express . Anyone know if they are worth getting if i just want them to open venitian style (slats) blinds . Ie just rotating a little bit to open the slats?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001698400295.html?spm=a2g0o.search0304.0.0.432e1e09bd7ON8&algo_pvid=f44f54f4-3c97-45cc-b6b3-d8b62a48c502&aem_p4p_detail=202110220959565369398822885230017694428&algo_exp_id=f44f54f4-3c97-45cc-b6b3-d8b62a48c502-7

https://www.blinds-2go.ie/venetian-blinds/28266/essence-porcelain.html

Cheers

jem · 24-10-2021 1:44pm

Hi I have a gazebo out back and looking for shades for the roof

lenght 3.5 mts* 2 mts would love them to be smart any ideas?

newbie2 · 29-04-2022 7:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059033#Comment_118059033

Just an update on this. bought five and have them workling opeing the slats and closing them when I have them scheduled. Can also control using Alexa and several apps. If you are using two separate string pullies to open and close slats - I suggest you tie several knots along the ends and tie them together in a loop. The cog grips the string better.

Smart Blinds - thoughts?

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