Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...)
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Hi,
I would like to have motorized blinds that can report current state and can be controlled from several sources (manually via button, remotely via mqtt etc) and also be "percentage" controllable, meaning shut only 30% or so.
I can fix pretty much all with mysensors, but motor itself is a tricky part, I would like it to be robust and "properly" done (easiest is with commercial products).I leave in Norway, Europe and I have not yet ordered any motor, still checking out options. I saw recommendations about Somfy motors (I also like that they can run on batteries). But from what I have understood the motor needs to have 3 wires (neutral and up and down) for arduino to determine current percentage? or is it?
They are also natively 433mhz, and I have rfLink for 433 comunication but again there is issue of keep state synchronized with multiple inputs (physical remote, mqtt, etc...)I was considering something from ebay as well, but again, two vs three wires for mysensors, can that work somehow?
Open to suggestions about any solution, if it helps I have rflink for 433 communication, I do have z-wave, xiaomi controllers if some of these can do it easier.
Would like hear what people would recommend for blinds?
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I never heard of motors that can be directly controlled with percentage, as usually they are "dumb" and require a controller that does the "calculation". I have seen zwave roller/shutter controllers that auto-adjust by sensing the end stops of the blinds and interpolate a percentage that you can set and they will execute.
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I never heard of motors that can be directly controlled with percentage, as usually they are "dumb" and require a controller that does the "calculation". I have seen zwave roller/shutter controllers that auto-adjust by sensing the end stops of the blinds and interpolate a percentage that you can set and they will execute.
@gohan after some more research I agree, I did see on some motors button for reset-setting end points, so I assumed that they might have more logic in them. But it looks like that built-in end point control is for the 433mhz models only, as they send/receive plain on/off/myLocation messages, and the motor must figure out where to go on its own.
I was a bit confused as I have found f.eks. this project https://www.openhardware.io/view/22/Roller-Shutter-Node that only supports motor with three wires. All motors I have found are two wires.
I guess that with modifications a two wire motor can be used as well, by of reversing the polarity and counting the time to determine start/stop and percentage? (eventually using physical switches for calibration and to determine where the start/stop are)
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Are you planning to use some kind of encoder to track the motor's position?
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Yes, but is still something that needs to be mounted somewhere (and it will be in sight too, remember the WAF) and it doesn't give you any real benefit since there is no need to measure speed since it is fixed.
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It turns out you can monitor the motor's position using a magnetic angle sensor, such as:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/20PCS-LOT-KMZ41-new-magnetic-resistance-type-Angle-sensor-patch-IC-chips-100-new/32775044844.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.262.qdq4r1 -
@gohan Why would it be visible? Wouldn't it be in the lintel, the same as the motor? i.e. not visible.
@neverdie said in Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...):
@gohan Why would it be visible? Wouldn't it be in the lintel, the same as the motor? i.e. not visible.
By looking at the motor he posted I don't see any place where that speed sensor could fit and be hidden. I don't see a real benefit in putting sensors around while you could achieve the same result from the motor controller. If you have end stop sensors already, good, you can use those but if they are not accessible or not present, you can still use a current sensor to detect when motor is suddenly not drawing any current or if it is drawing too much, meaning it has reached the end stop.
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Well, your way would work. I'm just not sure how well it would work.
A magnetic angle sensor is arguably a cleaner solution. There's no need for recurring calibrations. But it is an extra part. So, that's the trade-off.
@neverdie said in Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...):
Well, your way would work. I'm just not sure how well it would work.
My neighbour has zwave roller blinds controllers and they work like that, using end stop and calculating the position. The first time you need to "calibrate" and it will measure time between the 0/100% positions, then I suppose it's just recalibrating/realigning each time you ask it to go fully opened or fully closed, as he's been using them for a few years and never had to recalibrate. In the end it seems to work very well.
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Aha, I see it's my fault for the disconnect. Even though this thread clearly states it's about roller blinds, for some reason I was thinking about venetian blinds instead.
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Disclaimer: I work for Luxaflex/HunterDouglas.
The Hunter Douglas has motors that more or less do what you describe. The easiest way to get this running is to buy into the ecosystem (including the hub). From there you control your shades by telling them to go to 50% or something. This is not time based, but based on an encoder motor.
https://motorisation.hde.nl/products/PowerView/Roller-blinds/M25T.PV-data-sheet/
The PowerView radio system is based on 2.4gHz. And I know for a fact it can be controlled using a device like this:
https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF51-Dongle
You can buy such a motor at your local luxaflex store (I think as normally we only sell complete systems.)
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Thank everyone, I forgot to check the topic (I was thinking email notification would arrive, but got nothing.).
It looks like most popular/easiest way is to go with using end stop and calculating the position as @Nca78 mentioned above, and this is what I have found that is closest to the commercial solution I am considering.
https://www.m.nu/rullgardin/motorisera-rullgardin-1-motor-z-wave-24vIt is a website in Swedish, but basically they have a 24v DC motor and a z-wave Flush shutter from Qubino (as well as adapter for ikea blinds f.eks.). It costs a bit over 180e per window (without the blinds).
To go with mysensors I guess it would be around 35e for motor from ebay and electronic parts (and printing or making adapters). I guess 60e + time spent on it?
I would not think much if it is just one window, but I need it for five, so if I can save ~100e for window, there might be some math in the mysensors/diy approach .But then there is the WAF where a nice remote would be a must, f.eks. https://www.m.nu/fjarrkontroller/smart-color-button-philio
which rises the cost in both approaches, but then again these blinds would just have to work, every time.In theory, the most difficult part is to make a motor controller that would control the blinds just like mentioned Qubino controller does (which I think I can make, with help from community if needed).
But then a nice remote would be needed as well, most likely mysensorified one so that it can talk directly to the blinds, thus still controlling the blinds even if gateway or controller er offline. Remote doesn't have to be that beautiful, but since it would be the only visible component, it is very much desirable. (it can be semi-hidden as well, or a nice casing could be used and converted to mysensors, not that huge deal, two buttons in the worst case)Because of all this I am highly considering commercial approach, but it would be really cool to have this project realized in diy, to demonstrate how some serious money could be saved (and to save me some money as well :) where some portion would be of course donated to the mysensors again ;) )
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Hello. I also thinking of my roller blinds automation and i was found this on thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2392856
Its very cheap project for 5-10€/window. With 28BYJ-48 stepper motor you at least need 9v psu, it's even better with 12v.
I also saw, that someone was already discusing in mysensors forum about how to start this motor and there is a code. Of course if you want to use percentage for open blinds, you should modify code and add some typen of encoder on mechanics. https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/3394/curtain-control-node/31
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Hello. I also thinking of my roller blinds automation and i was found this on thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2392856
Its very cheap project for 5-10€/window. With 28BYJ-48 stepper motor you at least need 9v psu, it's even better with 12v.
I also saw, that someone was already discusing in mysensors forum about how to start this motor and there is a code. Of course if you want to use percentage for open blinds, you should modify code and add some typen of encoder on mechanics. https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/3394/curtain-control-node/31
