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  3. Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...)

Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...)

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  • gohanG Offline
    gohanG Offline
    gohan
    Mod
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    Your motors are probably DC motors, so you may have to look at an H bridge configuration while the 3 wires motors are AC.

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    • NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      Are you planning to use some kind of encoder to track the motor's position?

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      • gohanG Offline
        gohanG Offline
        gohan
        Mod
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Most commercial product I saw use an estimate by calculating the time between the 2 end stops and do a recalibration every now and then

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        • NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDieN Offline
          NeverDie
          Hero Member
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          Well, an encoder can be fairly cheap: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Photoelectric-Speed-Sensor-Encoder-Coded-Disc-code-wheel-for-Freescale-Smart-car/32643642446.html?spm=2114.search0104.8.34.4ac874d3PhKG7j&priceBeautifyAB=0

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          • gohanG Offline
            gohanG Offline
            gohan
            Mod
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            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.

            NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
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            • gohanG gohan

              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.

              NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDie
              Hero Member
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              @gohan Why would it be visible? Wouldn't it be in the lintel, the same as the motor? i.e. not visible.

              gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
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              • NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                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

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                • NeverDieN NeverDie

                  @gohan Why would it be visible? Wouldn't it be in the lintel, the same as the motor? i.e. not visible.

                  gohanG Offline
                  gohanG Offline
                  gohan
                  Mod
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  @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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                  • NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    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.

                    Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • gohanG Offline
                      gohanG Offline
                      gohan
                      Mod
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      It's the way the commercial products use since it's the most universal that doesn't require external sensors. I'm not saying it is the best solution ever but just the most widely used

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                      • NeverDieN NeverDie

                        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.

                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78
                        Hardware Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        @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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                        • NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDie
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          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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                          • Sander TeunissenS Offline
                            Sander TeunissenS Offline
                            Sander Teunissen
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            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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                            • D Offline
                              D Offline
                              dakipro
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              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-24v

                              It 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 ;) )

                              C: OpenHAB2 with node-red on linux laptop
                              GW: Arduino Nano - W5100 Ethernet, Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz mqtt
                              GW: Arduino Mega, RFLink 433Mhz

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                              • J Offline
                                J Offline
                                jacikaas
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                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

                                YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
                                1
                                • J jacikaas

                                  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

                                  YveauxY Offline
                                  YveauxY Offline
                                  Yveaux
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  @jacikaas Nice find!
                                  However, I think this thread is about outdoor roller blinds, like:

                                  0_1519557733260_0fe11dce-411d-418b-8184-56e3957fe45c-image.png

                                  Which require a lot more power to be operated.

                                  http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

                                  J 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • YveauxY Yveaux

                                    @jacikaas Nice find!
                                    However, I think this thread is about outdoor roller blinds, like:

                                    0_1519557733260_0fe11dce-411d-418b-8184-56e3957fe45c-image.png

                                    Which require a lot more power to be operated.

                                    J Offline
                                    J Offline
                                    jacikaas
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    @Yveaux
                                    Yes, that outdoor blinds need a lot more power :)

                                    Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • J jacikaas

                                      @Yveaux
                                      Yes, that outdoor blinds need a lot more power :)

                                      Nca78N Offline
                                      Nca78N Offline
                                      Nca78
                                      Hardware Contributor
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      @jacikaas said in Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...):

                                      @Yveaux
                                      Yes, that outdoor blinds need a lot more power :)

                                      Some indoor blinds too, I will try the solution in your link but I don't think it will work for me as I have a lot of height (> 2m) and up to 1,8m width, it gets pretty heavy.

                                      NeverDieN J 2 Replies Last reply
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                                      • Nca78N Nca78

                                        @jacikaas said in Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...):

                                        @Yveaux
                                        Yes, that outdoor blinds need a lot more power :)

                                        Some indoor blinds too, I will try the solution in your link but I don't think it will work for me as I have a lot of height (> 2m) and up to 1,8m width, it gets pretty heavy.

                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        @nca78 Maybe just a regular low RPM, high torque motor would work best for you?

                                        Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                                        1
                                        • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                          @nca78 Maybe just a regular low RPM, high torque motor would work best for you?

                                          Nca78N Offline
                                          Nca78N Offline
                                          Nca78
                                          Hardware Contributor
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          @neverdie said in Recommendation for motorized roller blinds solution (actual motor, like somfy, rollertrol, ebay...):

                                          @nca78 Maybe just a regular low RPM, high torque motor would work best for you?

                                          Yes there are 220V motors you put inside the tube (same concept than the link given in the first post).

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