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Topic:
X10 & Curtain/Drape Control
This thread has 5 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday June 20, 2001 at 09:33
Andrew Johnson
Historic Forum Post
I am fairly new to X10 automation and am in the midst of planning how I am going to automate many of my household lights and appliances. I have recently had motors fitted to operate several sets of curtains throughout the house. They plug directly into the mains sockets which is left permanently switched on and are operated either by remote control, in my
case the Marantz RC5000i, or by means of a push button. The problem that exists is two fold and only applies to the curtains in the lounge where my
home entertainment is based. Firstly when operating many of my home entertainment units, DVD, CD or whatever, the infa red signal that is transmitted will operate the curtains. Secondly it is my intention to use some form of PC interface to operate timed schedules for lighting and drape/curtain control

I have read in Smart Homes for Dummies (page 274) that a "Universal Module" providing momentary relay closure will create the equivalent action of pressing a button.
Equaly I understand that the UM only works with low voltage products.

Can anybody help?
OP | Post 2 made on Thursday June 21, 2001 at 10:55
Nigel Smith
Historic Forum Post
Check out this: [Link: worthdist.com] where there is a X-10 IR remote control for it which could be learned by the Marantz. I have one but haven't installed it yet so can't say how good it is - Its pretty solid though - looks like it can handle heavy curtains.
OP | Post 3 made on Thursday June 21, 2001 at 11:01
Nigel Smith
Historic Forum Post
If you want to control this via a PC, look at the Ocelot as it has IR input and can translate an IR in to X10 command out.
OP | Post 4 made on Thursday June 21, 2001 at 17:04
Deane Johnson
Historic Forum Post
Nigel:

Can you give us a report on that Worthington unit when you get it operating. The page doesn't say, but is it x-10 contolled. Can you have multilpe stops (I'm thinking about masking use)? Is it noisy? How fast do the curtains travel. Around four inches per second is ideal (Makita is 11" per second, too fast).

With DrapeBoss gone, many of us are searching for a good substitute. This one is certainly priced right if it can meet some basic needs.

Thanks,

Deane
OP | Post 5 made on Sunday July 1, 2001 at 11:39
Tony Blunt
Historic Forum Post
IMHO the DrapeBoss is far superior to the Worthington Add-A-Motor. I tried both. While I was unable to get a chain that would work with my Hunter-Douglas wheel and the DrapeBoss, using a cord seems to work with very little slippage. (I adjust the blind about once every 6 months).

The problem with the AAM is that it is a toggle up/down, rather than discrete signals for open, close, half-open etc. This makes automatted operation while I am away risky. A power failure or other glitch and the AAM is opening the blinds at night and closing them in the morning!

I made some comments when I was installing/testing the two units, here they are:-

Butler Model 80 Add-a-Motor

Uses Appliance Module. One address. Toggles between two pre-set positions.

Noisy.
Friction pulley, not socketed for chain.
Open/Closed pre-set positions only.
Adjustable with remote between pre-set positions.
Impossible to know (in Xtension) where the blind is located.
Good mounting, plenty of adjustment.
Economical alternative, but does not satisfy my security needs - one glitch while I am away and the blind will be closing in the morning and opening at night!


DrapeBoss

Uses Power Line Interface. (One Powerline interface can serve mutiple DrapeBoss’s) Uses up to 8 addresses. Open, close, and up to 6 pre-set positions. (Older version uses 10, the last two, which allowed small steps, have been dropped on later models. This is good, because now you can only use as many as you need, and not have those last two way out yonder! Adjusting the blind 1/2” at a time was not convenient either.)

Quiet.
Chain pulley, but chain size not always compatable with blinds.
Open/Close and up to 6 other pre-set positions.
Not adjustable between pre-set positions with remote.
Always know (in Xtension) where the blind is located.
Poor mounting, inadequate adjustment.
Large unit.




OP | Post 6 made on Thursday July 5, 2001 at 18:03
Alexis Guillen
Historic Forum Post
What is the best/cheapest drape controlers and where can I find them at the lowest price? I have a simple verticle blinds that can be pulled together/seperated and opened/closed. The window is about 4 feet long and in an inconvienent location. Thanks for the input.

--Alexis


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