Motorized Blinds

Having a remote to control the functions of a blind is an aid to comfort ant not a necessity. It allows you to raise or lower the shades or to open and close the slats of your blinds my merely pushing a button. And, how does one operate those blinds and shades placed at difficult to reach places, for example skylights.

Before going into the details of a motorized control of window blinds or shades, let’s understand the kind of motion or movement that each kind is subjected to. Window blinds allow the control of light by their opening and closing. This motion is called tilt and can be achieved thru a motor that can be remote controlled. Likewise, window shades may be motorized to facilitate their raising or lowering by making them unroll or roll up. This kind of a motion is known as lift. In short it is possible to motorize both the movements, the slit, as well the lift, and the motor in turn can be remote controlled.

The motor incorporated in blinds or shades, for being controlled remotely, would necessarily involve the purchase of a remote control for it to function. Yes, one may often operate a number of motorized blinds or shades with the same remote control.

Depending on the desired functions that a motor may have to perform, the design of a remote control could vary. There are two different principles of operation. One uses the principle of infrared or “line of sight”, whereas the other uses transmission at radio frequencies. It becomes evident from the name itself that the latter can be used without having to point it out in the direction of the object, that is a shade or a blind in the present case.

Having understood the technicalities, these are the types of window shades available with motorized lift option: cellular shades, pleated shades, solar shades, sheer shades and pleated shades plus the woven wood blinds, more popularly called as bamboo shades. Cellular or cell shades often addressed as honeycombs are good for providing better insulation thru windows. Pleated shades though look similar to cellular do not provide the same level of insulation. Their small crisp accordion like pleats fold up rather than rolling up. Solar shades while blocking incoming light preserve views. Their level of opacity varies from three to fourteen percent, the higher this level the more is the visibility. Solar shades offer maximum protection against UV rays of the sun and also help to restrict solar heat. Sheer blinds are not too well known. These are like hybrid shades comprising two sheer fabric facings over soft fabric vanes. Sheer vertical blinds, on the other hand, have light filtering material between hanging fabric or vinyl vanes.

You may have blinds with motor controlled tilt motion in these varieties: mini blinds or wood and faux wood blinds. Mini blinds are too well known and need not be described here. Wood or faux wood blinds come with real hardwood slats or vinyl slats with the appearance of real wood. These are available in different slat sizes, depending on the size of the window that needs to be covered. The thumb rule is the larger the window, the bigger the size of the slat. The slat size may vary from just1/2” for mini wood blinds to 2 ½ “ for bigger windows.

The last few decades have witnessed tremendous developments in the field of science and technology, but what have greatly affected a common man have been the developments in the field of electronics. Just look around your home and see the electronic devices that have made life so convenient, from a TV to a computer. The operation of household electronic devices has been simplified and made very convenient with the introduction of a wonderful device called remote control. It allows you to operate and control your devices without your really touching them physically. You can control the functioning of your equipment from a distance without leaving your seat.

The idea of operating devices through a remote control has been extended to operation of window coverings too. Yes, now you may open or close your window coverings by the mere push of a button without having to touch them while you remain seated. Such blinds are called motorized blinds and the unit that helps you to control their movements is called a remote control that needs no electrical wires for its functioning. You can operate both, the vertical or the horizontal blinds with this cordless remote control that may be made of vinyl or wood.

Blinds certainty add to your privacy, but operating them with the cords is not hassle-free. Further, these cords are not very safe for use, especially when you have kids at home for fear of their getting entangled and causing accidents, which could be very fatal at times. A remote control offers absolutely safe operation as it does away with the cords and needs no wires for its operation.

But, like any other product a remote control unit too has its limitations. One not so serious limitation is that you can’t go beyond a predetermined distance and yet have a control on the operation of any device by a remote control. The other limitation that has restricted the patronage of this wonderful gadget is its price. Compared to the other available alternates, the price of a remote vertical shades, shutters or blinds is rather high and generally the consumers from middle class find it out of their reach.

However, the demand is steadily moving upwards and the manufacturers are optimistic that that in the not too distant future everybody will start having motorized blinds controlled with a remote control. And, that shouldn’t surprise anybody, because increased use will bring in more manufacturers and competition, as we all know, ultimately helps the consumers.

Nevertheless, cost is just one aspect of any product. You have to weigh it against the advantages it offers. A remote allows you the ease of an absolutely safe and hassle-free operation and needs no maintenance. All said and done, you don’t get enhanced comfort and safety cheap. Plus you are bringing home technology that enhances the looks of your home.