Who makes the most reliable and AFFORDABLE electric, X10 controllable (or with a module attached) electric drapery rods or activators? I know you guys know...me, I'm just getting into this aspect of my HT.
Thanks much,
Wayne

Hi Wayne,

I dont know where in the world you are butI have just received my curtain (drapes) control motors from
http://www.intellihome.be/ excellent value. they are in Europe,(belguim ) I am in UK 48 hour delivery

Julian

what do they cost in US $?

The unit I found on their site is available in the U.S. from Smarthome.com. Seems like I remember them being about $79. I understand they are a little noisy.

Deane

If you can get your hands on any sort of drive motor, you can use an X10 Universal Module to control it... I've seen a few neat projects like this on the web, one even used a drill for a motor! With the universal module, the possibilities are endless.


Randy
www.RRDeals.com

I have been investigating this question because I would like to carry motorized window mechanisms on my site. The best beyond a doubt have motors by Somfy but they are way-out in price and not for your average home (over $1000, some way over). Somfy does make a quite quality motor for just actuating a pull cord that looks fairly nice, the big guy out there has them, we plan to also (but for a lot less).

Makita and BTX make the next ones down the line. I am leaning toward the BTX because although almost identical to Makita the engineer at BTX was telling me about the numerous improvements they have made to the design. The prices are also a bit better, but were still talking $400 to $600 a rod. This is about it other than the noisy add a motor type. Most of these can be controlled either by X10 contact closure or by direct IR.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Randy:

How would you stop make the motor stop at the end of travel?

Bill E:

Another issue in my mind is the travel speed. Anything too fast looses the dramatic effect of screen curtains that open slowly, or seem to due to their size.

My DrapeBoss (not available) open at 3" per second. Possible a touch slow. The BTX opens at 6" per second, possibly a touch fast, but probably acceptable. The Makita opens at 11" per second, completely unacceptable for screen curtains in my opinion. I think they would look like curtains jerking open for a kids puppet show.

Just my thoughts. There is a tremendous gap in what is avialable. We need something reliable, remote control and reasonably quite that can retail for around $500 tops, installed.

Deane

Thanks everyone for your help and info. Bill, I have been doing a lot of research on the web and have found what you just mentioned. There seems to be an average price of around $80.US for the simple add-a-motor types and then the price jumps to around $600./rod for the integrated motor rods. My rod needs to be 18' on the windows and 11' on the screen...big bucks. I think I am going to try one of the "cheap" motor units to see how well they work before I save all of my nickles for the expensive units...ouch!

Deane,

It's a bit tricky to do automatically, but "do-able"! You can install small blocks on the cord that when they go near the motor (i.e. at the end of the travel) trip a relay which shuts off the power to the motor. Or you can have the cord somehow OPEN the power connection when it gets the the end of the travel. Hey, we're talking about a universal module and any old motor you can find, a very cheap and fun project that can be done tastefully and with great useability. Though I think I'll stick with pre-fab units for MY drapes :)


Randy
www.RRDeals.com

OR - I forgot to mention this - the easiest method, but a bit scary, is to use a software program to control your X10 - then just have the signal sent for, say, 10 seconds, or however long it takes to open the drapes.

Just to throw my 2c in, theres quite an interesting X10 240v, 50 hz wall switch available that is designed to control shutters, drapes etc. [Link: eon3.com]

I dont know if they have the same US version, but on this one, you set the limit switches through timing on the switch, sending an on command opens it, off command closes it, and preset dims sends it to any position in between. Basically all you have to do is connect it to a motor! The only problem is that I havent found a drape motor that it would be compatible with. The add-a-motor unfortunately wouldnt work.

Cheers, Cam

The Whisper Quite X-10 controlled opener on the Smarthome site shouldn't be overlooked. It's $380 in the X-10 model. It's a Somfy product.

[Link: smarthome.com]

The drapery cord goes through it and doesn't need to be cut. It auto stops when it comes to the end of the run, either open or closed.

I have installed one for a person and it worked well. I haven't been around it since, so I don't know if their were any follow-up problems or not. Probably not or I would have been called.

Deane

As I stated above, Somfy seems to make quality products. There looks like there are parts that wear on this unit but they sell a rebuild kit.

I will be selling them for quite a bit less than those other folks, and continuing to negotiate price and quantity with them but am getting close to ordering.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

That's good news Bill. This unit would seem to be the lowest priced option currently available from a quality manufacturer.

When I installed one, I questioned whether the auto stop at the end of travel would work well or not, but it turned out that it worked quite well. It's easy to install and didn't seem to have any quirks.

I didn't time the travel speed, but as I recall it was reasonable. I would like to get one timed sometime.

I assume you already know that HunterDouglas uses Somfy motors in their most costly EasyRise motorized shades. I also understand that Somfy motors are used on TV studio sets to move things up and down, a place where reliability is absolutely essential.

Deane

Deane and Bill: This is good info. I would be more inclined to use the Whisper Quiet if the price is more reasonable. Let me know, Bill, when you get them in or know what the price is going to be. I will keep checking your website as well.

Wayne