Do you like the comfort of electrical equipment at home? Here are 3 ways to motorize your blinds:
Mains electric motor
Your first solution is to install a mains motor. You will then have to connect it to the electrical wiring of your home, as for a motorized roller shutter for example.
Moreover, you can connect a tubular shutter motor to a manual blind. Simply choose a compatible model. Then take into account the required length and the total weight of the blind. In general, an awning is much lighter than a shutter apron. It is therefore likely that a minimum power (10 Nm, up to 25 kg) is more than sufficient for this use.
In addition, you have the choice between a wired and radio tubular motor. The first is activated using a switch attached to the wall. This installation will require some additional electrical adjustments. As for the radio motor, it is controlled with a remote control. It is therefore more practical and avoids adding a button to the wall.
Furthermore, the mains motor generates electricity costs, but ensures optimal operation at all times, unlike battery and solar motors. In addition, the wired motor may be more powerful and thus suitable for a heavy awning. For example, an awning.
A battery-powered motor
Next, the battery-powered motor is a fairly popular motor choice. It works with 8 to 16 AA batteries (depending on its power). Note that it is important to choose lithium-ion batteries, which will resist the sun: after all, your blinds are right behind the window!
We appreciate the battery-powered motor for its simplicity of installation. In fact, it is a simple rod to attach to the wall or ceiling, then connect to the blind.
On the other hand, the disadvantage is that the batteries have a limited lifespan. You must therefore replace them regularly, it is not complicated, but quite restrictive. In addition, when they are at the end of their life, the performance of the engine declines and harms your comfort of use.
The solar engine
Third, the solar engine has a small solar panel attached to the window. Thanks to sunlight, it recharges the battery which activates the rotation of the motor.
Like the battery-powered motor, it does not require any manipulation of the electrical wiring. Simply connect the motor to the blind.
This option is more ecological than the previous ones, but the result is less aesthetic because of the solar panel attached to the window. Additionally, it is likely that you will need to replace the solar battery regularly, when the awning begins to weaken.
Installation tips for discreet mounting
Now let’s see how to install a motor on a manual blind. Your goal is to obtain a result that is both functional and aesthetic. It is necessary to connect the motor to the base of the blind operation, in order to replace the manual action. So when you press the button (wall switch or remote control), the motor activates and raises or lowers the blind as you wish. Simply release the button when it reaches the desired level.
In practice, if your blind has a box or a winding axis, you can slide the tubular motor there discreetly. But if this is not the case, you will have to attach the motor to the wall or ceiling. Ideally, screw it behind the blind, to hide it as best as possible.
And if you cannot hide the motor behind the blind (if it is attached to the window for example), you can also install a small box. It will then allow you to slide the motor inside, ensuring that the wire that connects it to the blind is as discreet as possible.
Furthermore, if discretion in installation is really important to you, we recommend that you opt for a radio motor – not a wired one. This way, no switch will distort the design of your wall. In addition, handling will be easier for you!
And finally: some bonus suggestions
We will end this article with some tips and ideas that will help you benefit from the blinds best suited to your needs.
First, if you want motorized blinds in a house under construction, install them from the start. Even if the purchase cost is higher, it will ultimately be more practical and profitable than adding a motor to a manual blind. In particular, your electrical wiring will be designed accordingly, saving you from having to modify it afterwards.
Second, whatever method you use to motorize your blinds, keep in mind that remote-controlled models operate on a radio frequency. Depending on your needs, we advise you to obtain a remote control with several channels. This way, you can control each blind separately, by assigning a radio channel to each. To help you, here is how to find out the frequency of a remote control (gate, blind, shutter, garage door, etc.).
Finally, there are other interesting features to optimize the electrical control of your blinds. For example, how about a timer that cycles them up and down at specific times? What if you also installed a sun detector which adjusts the height of the blind according to the brightness and/or the interior temperature? In the age of growing home automation, you might also consider controlling your blinds remotely from your smartphone. Then choose an intelligent model, with an ergonomic mobile application.
