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

[NeverDie]

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

[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.

[NeverDie]

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

[NeverDie]

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]

@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.

[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.

[gohan]

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

[Nca78]

@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.

[NeverDie]

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.

[Sander Teunissen]

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.)

[dakipro]

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 ;) )

[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

[Yveaux]

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

Which require a lot more power to be operated.

[jacikaas]

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

[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.

[NeverDie]

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

[Nca78]

@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).

[krejcarek]

Hello, let me shortly give you my 5 cents about this topic.

I have since 1.5 years a roller blind solution up and running. The logic is based upon the solution of @scalz.

It uses standard Becker (similar quality as Somfy) motors 4 wired, that normally has an indoor switch unit. I chose this since significantly cheaper than any radio controlled solution, and absolutely robust. Definitely a plus for something firmly built into the walls.

For control I have hubs for 4 windows each. They include mysensors, Arduino, and an 8 pcs relay board. Enabling of setting individual positioning by counting time. The total run time is adjustable through mysensors commands. This proved to be for me a simple but very reliable method. I can set any percentage, or even stop, and then it reports actual state. The complete ecosystem is within an openHAB controller, thus I can set automated rules, e.g. go down at the local dusk time, or gently wake up just by go up a bit.
Code is here available: https://github.com/krejcarek/mysensors

Overal very happy with the setup. Two issues I experienced:

• some struggle with range, and unreliable transfer in mesh
• the units are in the attic. In winter I experience some unreliable operation, some units "freeze". Can be literally, or due to some solder quality issues, not sure yet what is causing it.

[jacikaas]

@nca78
Yes, thats quite heavy. Need to check it practically. I started to test the motor (now only on the desk), but my 28BYJ-48 motor is shaking with AccelStepper library. With some simple code without included any library - working fine, so I will look why thats happening.

[parachutesj]

@dakipro I do have somfy motors wired to the control panels everywhere. The motors itself are very good. There are also newer ones I think which can be controlled wireless in case you do not have the wires yet or would need to wire it. then it only needs power at the window.

For controlling, I used to have mysensors, but never had very reliable results. Potentially my bad electronic skills and switched to comercial solution lately (Homematic).

for controlling, you might need to look into this:
https://github.com/marvinroger/arduino-shutters