Motorized blinds, electric blinds, automatic blinds, PowerView®, battery operated. What does it all mean?
The term "Motorized" represents all of the above. The window covering is not operated manually, it is "powered" by a power source and "controlled" by some sort of remote / switch / mobile device or panel. Therefore, each shade or blind has a concealed motor in the head rail that receives a command from the power source to do something- go up, go down, open, tilt, etc.
Photos: Duette® PowerView® and Silhouette® PowerView® and Motorized Roller Shades Up & Part Way Down
Benefits
Ease of Use
The press of a button and you can tilt blinds, or raise or lower shades, even when high up and in multiple rooms. You can also group shades to operate together, or independently. You no longer have to stand at the window for your desired effect!
Accessibility
Now you can cover high up or many windows without difficulty. No unsightly strings hanging down between openings! Group shades to work in tandem. You can event schedule them to operate at certain times of the day or in certain scenarios (like movie watching) automatically. Even control them through the internet when you are gone!
No Exterior Cords
Child safe, pet friendly, visually appealing. Due to the unfortunate child strangulation cases the industry is moving away from any visible cords that can form loops. Keep your children, grandchildren & pets safer plus enjoy the beauty and operation of your coverings without strings or loops.
Energy Efficiency
Controlling your shades with a sun sensor, timer, ipad mobile device or home automation leads to more energy efficiency combating the heat gain or heat loss in your home. You can see the effect on your energy bills.
Reduce sun Damage
Controlling the sun will protect your furniture, floors, artwork and such from the harmful UV rays that enter our homes.
Almost all Hunter Douglas products can be motorized, from wood blinds to roller shades, including drapery and exterior products (screens & awnings). See the videos below of various products motorized. We have a wide range of products in our showroom which you can operate and understand better how motorization works, from battery operation to hard-wired installations. Come in and see us today!
Certified Motorization Specialist
The Blind Spot is a recognized CMS for Hunter Douglas. That gives us certain access to Hunter Douglas parts, products and expertise that other dealers cannot rely on or cannot order.
Home Automation
Hunter Douglas products can be seamlessly integrated with most home automation systems, Control 4, Zwave, Crestron, Savant, Vera, Wink. Just call us so we can work with your architect, designer, home builder or automater to install the products you want and desire, not just what the automater can provide.
Power
Power Sources
Different window covering types and sizes will determine what type of power sources are available to you. Large shades and high up applications drive themselves towards hard-wired AC motors and wiring or DC low voltage wiring.
Battery Operation
Batteries are a great alternative if your application is such that running a wire to the top of the window is difficult or too expensive. Batteries used run from AA to D cell and provide 1-3 years of life before having to be changed. Usually there is a battery wand that is attached to the headrail that can be disengaged from the motor wiring by a barrel plug and batteries replaced. There is usually always an option to order a battery pack that uses a wire to run the lower sill or jamb, making battery changing easier at the bottom of the opening rather that at the headrail. The downside is frequent battery replacement and the need for a ladder for high up application.
Plug in DC Power Supplies
Some product motors can utilize 12-24 volt DC operation. In these applications low voltage wiring can be run to the window header and a pig-tail plugin operation can be used. In some cases a DC transformer can be plugged into an existing wall outlet (to hide the wire exposed from headrail to wall outlet quite often we install drapery panels)! This type of wiring is usually inexpensive and may not require an electrician to make the connection to the shade. Simply operate the shade with a remote or wall switch.
Power Panels & AC Motors
AC motors will require traditional electrical wiring and usually require an electrician to run the wire to the power source and power panel. This is commonly called "hard-wired" and is the most reliable power / data connection. This type of motorization provides availability to very large shade options and multiple shades on one headrail or powered by one motor options. Typically we provide some sort of power panel to house motor controllers and centralize wiring and access to one location.
Hard Wired Motorization Photos
Control
RF Remote Control - Radio Frequency
Radio control eliminates the need for line of site operation (like your tv remote). RF works like a garage door opener from further away and behind walls. Radio frequency is ideal for controlling multiple shades simultaneously, Hunter Douglas' PowerViewTM control works this way.
RF Wireless Wall Switch - Radio Frequency
Wireless wall switches work with RF technology therefore they can be wireless. No need to run wire to these. Being wireless they can be located virtually anywhere in a room. Wireless wall switches work just like an RF Remote Control.
iPad and iPhone Shade Control
iPad and iPhone shade control is here. Available with new Hunter Douglas PowerView® shades or retrofit existing motorized shades to work with an iPad or iPhone app. A simple WIFI bridge is needed to connect to your existing WIFI network. Set up scenes and timers to control your shades.
Central Control through a Power Distribution Panel
For larger projects or when control through a home automation system is desired utilize a power and control distribution panel. A power distribution panel can control multiple shades and requires wiring from each shade to panel.
Custom Motorization Power Panel Photos
Home Automation Control
Motorized shades are easily integrated into and controlled by home automation systems.