Electric roll shades have an inbuilt electric motor in their top roller tube, which replaces the old-fashioned manual act of pulling. Once connected to the smart home technology, either by Wi-Fi or through a specialised smart home hub, the blinds become controllable using mobile applications, voice control through voice-activated home gadgets such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, or even programmed for automatic opening or closing depending on the hour of the day, temperature or sunlight.
Blinds by Design is involved in the installation of thousands of window treatments across Central West NSW and Lake Macquarie. At our showrooms located in Bathurst and Orange, the most common query posed by customers relates to the viability of making the switch to electric blinds.
For anyone who is designing their dream home, undertaking renovations or tired of hauling window blinds around every day, automation is definitely the way to go. This article is designed to provide you with everything that you need to know about automated roller blinds, from how they work to connecting them to your home network.
What Are Motorised Roller Blinds?
A roller blind operated by a motor is a window cover where the electric motor is hidden within a tube used to pull up and down the blind material. Rather than using the manual chain system to do this, a simple button press either on the remote control or on the wall is all that is needed.
The manually operated system inside an electric roller blind is entirely eliminated. The electric motor fits easily inside the aluminium roller tube, linking up with a wheel drive system that spins the tube. The electric motor being hidden means that the blinds maintain a sleek look.
Such a design would get rid of all the dangling cords and chains, providing a completely safe environment for children and pets in the household.
How Do Smart Blinds Work?
How does a smart blind work? The smart blind technology makes the regular motorisation technology even more efficient because of its ability to get connected to the internet. Unlike the regular electric blinds, which require a radio frequency controller to work, the smart blinds communicate with your home WiFi via a smart hub.
This can be seen clearly by comparing the motor to the muscle, with the intelligent home system as the brain.
Most dumb motors use the Radio Frequency (RF). This is because the common house Wi-Fi routers cannot understand RF and therefore a link is needed. The smart hub, which is a small device, is used to link your house Wi-Fi network to the motor.
Once you press the button on your smartphone application while working at your office desk, the signal passes through the internet to reach your Wi-Fi router at home. After that, the router passes on the signal to the smart hub, and then the smart hub converts the signal into RF format and sends it directly to your window shades.
Bluetooth and Matter are two new technologies used by some new smart window blinds to connect with each other in a more direct way, but Wi-Fi hub technology is still considered the most reliable one.
Can Roller Blinds Connect To Google Home And Other Voice Assistants?
Are roller blinds compatible with Google Home? Indeed, they can be linked to Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. Once your smart blind hub is connected to your preferred voice assistant app, you’ll be able to manage your window blinds through voice commands like “Hey Google, close the blinds.”
The benefits of voice-activated blinds are quite numerous. Suppose you are cooking a meal and the setting sun from the west starts to shine into your kitchen. In that case, there is no need for you to stop washing your hands to look for a remote.
Expert Tip: It should be noted that not all electric blinds are automatically compatible with Apple HomeKit. In case you own any Apple devices, make sure to inform our experts of that when consulting with us.
Power Options: Battery-Powered Vs Hardwired Blinds
The first decision to make when buying automatic blinds is the method used to power them. There are two ways in which you can power the automatic blinds. Each way has its own strengths which differ from one person’s house to another.
Battery-Powered Blinds
The preferred way of powering automatic blinds in pre-existing houses is through batteries. These have a rechargeable lithium ion battery embedded in the roller. There are no wires that need to be plugged into the wall socket; hence, installation is easy and does not need an electrician.
Hardwired Blinds
The hardwired motor connects directly with the electrical supply in your house; therefore, no charging of the battery is required. This type of motor is suitable for big and bulky window coverings that are situated at a higher level where they are difficult to reach.
Comparison Summary
| Feature | Battery-Powered Motors | Hardwired Motors |
| Installation | Fast. No electrician needed. | Slower. Requires electrical wiring. |
| Best Used For | Existing homes and retrofits. | New home builds and major renovations. |
| Power Source | Internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. | Direct connection to the 240V mains grid. |
| Maintenance | Requires a plug-in recharge 1–2 times a year. | Zero maintenance required. |
| Upfront Cost | Generally lower. | Higher due to electrical labour. |
The Core Benefits Of Automated Window Furnishings
Incorporation of motorisation into your home adds value that goes beyond mere convenience.
Climate Control And Energy Efficiency
If you live in the Central West area of NSW, you would be faced with extreme changes in weather conditions. From the cool winter days in Bathurst to the hot western sun in Orange and Mudgee, your window treatments will definitely help in regulating the temperature.
The automated blinds work efficiently as window insulation. The intelligent system allows you to schedule the closing of the blinds on the western part of your house whenever the interior temperatures hit 24 degrees. This way, by regulating sunlight through automation, heat cannot get inside the house, thus making the air conditioning system consume less energy.
During winter, the system can slowly lift the shades at 9:00 AM to let in sunlight for passive solar heating. In the evening when it gets colder and the sun goes down, the blinds will automatically close at 4:30 PM to retain heat within the house.
Home Security And Privacy
When you are out on vacation, it indicates that the house is unoccupied with the shades being pulled down throughout the day for a period of two weeks. Home automation technology allows you to preset your shades so that they can behave in accordance with your normal routine and rise during the mornings and close during the evenings, giving the impression that somebody is around.
Practical Buyer’s Guidance: Avoiding Common Mistakes
During our consultations with clients living in Lithgow, Oberon, Molong, and Blayney, we steer them clear of a number of mistakes associated with electric blinds.
- Choosing the wrong fabric: Motorisation will take care of movement, but it is the fabric which will control the lighting. Select the appropriate fabric that can work well with the motor you will be using in the particular room.
- Ignoring motor quality: Not all electric motors are made alike. We highly advise reliable products such as the Luxaflex roller blinds with PowerView automation or EDGE technology. Such types of systems offer high reliability, noise-free performance, and easy-to-use applications.
- Failing to plan during a build: If you are considering building your own home in either Belmont or Lake Macquarie, contact us prior to the installation of the plasterboard. Wiring the hardwired blinds prior to building is cost-effective; however, it will be more costly if it has been built.
Integrating Other Window Coverings
Motorisation does not apply only to roller blinds. Once the smart hub is installed, you have an opportunity to integrate many types of window coverings into one application. At Blinds by Design, we often motorise stylish curtains and Roman blinds. We can also automate luxurious plantation shutters, which will allow you to adjust the louvre position with just a click.
If you are in need of superior light management solutions that combine the soft elegance of draperies with the functional flexibility of blinds, we would strongly encourage you to look into our Pirouette Vs Silhouette Blinds: What Is The Difference? guide to assist you in making a choice.
In a Nutshell
A move towards the use of motorised blinds and their integration into the smart home system is an excellent solution that will help you control natural light, privacy, and the temperature in your house. Irrespective of whether you go for the battery-driven motor system or the one that uses wired components, automated windows have proven themselves useful.
The selection process of the motor, hub, and material might be confusing, but you can rely on us to guide you through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are motorised blinds worth it?
Yes, purchasing motorised window blinds is an excellent choice because they provide great convenience, reduce the safety threat caused by pull strings for children, and increase energy efficiency. This option is especially convenient when you have larger windows, tall ceilings, and multiple window blinds.
Do smart blinds need Wi-Fi?
The smart window blinds need Wi-Fi connectivity for their operation through smartphone applications, scheduling, and voice assistant technology. However, in the case where your internet temporarily fails, you will be able to operate your blinds like always using the RF remote control.
Can motorised blinds work during power outages?
Blinds with motor power from battery sources continue to function during power cuts because of the batteries inside them. On the other hand, hardwired blinds rely on the primary source of electrical energy in the house.
What is the lifespan of a motorised blind?
With the right maintenance, a decent motorised blind may last between 10 and 15 years. The batteries used inside the blinds can be recharged up to about 500 times, making the battery itself last between five and seven years.
Can I retrofit my existing manual blinds with a motor?
Yes, indeed. Should the roller blinds you have at home be fitted on an aluminium tube whose diameter is suited for the job, a specialist can fit the motor inside that tube, thus transforming your manual blinds to automatic ones without replacing the fabric.
Do electric blinds make a lot of noise?
Today’s electric blind is designed to work in an exceptionally silent manner. High-quality motors, such as the ones used in Luxaflex roller blinds, work in a very quiet way, producing a faint whirring noise.