5d ago

Advice and opinions on smart blinds

I want to install smart blinds on 4 windows, from small (2'x3') to kind of large (4'x5').

I need them blinds to be local-only and integrate into Home Assistant.

I'm looking at SmartWings, but blinds with a z-wave motor for one of my large windows would cost Just under $400. That seems a bit expensive to me (especially considerin that I got my current non-motorized, non-smart blinds for those windows for like $50 each - and they're good blinds!). Is that just what smart blinds are going to cost? Or did I land on an expense option?

Do you have a preferred make or model of local-only smart blinds?

6 comments

I've been using Somfy battery RTS blinds with an RFXcom. They've been rock solid, and since adding the solar panels haven't had to charge them in years. They just work.
Only Potential gripe is, the way I have them set up I don't get position or status updates in home assistant as the communication isn't bidirectional. That means I don't know how much charge the batteries have (unless they go low and flash, which hasn't happened for years), and if I lower them manually with a Somfy button, that isn't shown in HA. Don't mind that too much though.
I got the blinds on eBay but new, about £100 per motor and £40 for the solar kit iirc. Add to a blind with a compatible tube from a local company.
- Thanks for the suggestion. How do you integrate it with HA?
  Also, i can't find blinds on their website, just the motor. Does Somfy just sell the motor and the blinds themself are BYO?
  
  Yes, they only do the motors - bring your own blinds. They're a standard blind tube size so easy to find anywhere that sells blinds
  I use the RFXtrx integration which can be a bit of a pain to set up, but is rock solid once it's working
  You need a specific RFXcom device to work with the RTS protocol, all in the docs but can check what I've got and share some pointers if you want
  Also - I used to use the IKEA ones which were also pretty good so an easier solution if that's what you're after. They're ZigBee so easy to integrate and battery operated so no complications. My only complaints were that they only come in set sizes, are battery only with no option for solar panels so you need to remember to charge them (about once every 9 months ISH iirc), and are quite loud.
  
  Great info! Thanks.

6 comments