Remote control of curtains from the remote control has long ceased to be a luxury. We automate the curtains - and yet they are spinning How to make electric curtains yourself

Today, smart home automation affects almost all household processes. This also applies to the control of cornices, which goes well with the multiroom system. The electric drive for the eaves is the main element of curtain automation, which allows you to remotely control the level of natural light in the house. The main advantage of such a system is that it can be made independently. What is required for this, how to do it?

The principle of operation of the electric eaves

The systems under consideration are distinguished by a rather simple structure and principle of operation. The complete set is represented by an electric drive and an aluminum profile, which acts as a supporting structure for curtains. Inside the profile there is a strong steel cable connected to a movable carriage. The electric motor moves the carriage followed by the rope. On the cable there are fasteners to which the curtains are suspended.

Some models are equipped with a built-in timer. It allows you to pre-set scenarios according to which the system will automatically adjust the level of natural light inside the rooms. More advanced solutions have built-in light sensors. They work automatically, changing the position of the curtains depending on how light or dark it is at the moment outside.

Types of cornices by design

Curtains for a smart home with an electric drive are classified according to their design features into three types:

Sliding. The most common type. Such designs carry out the movement of curtains in a horizontal plane on both sides of the window. These systems are preferred in cases where it is necessary to automate the control of heavy curtains, as they are designed for very large loads.

Lifting. Such systems are intended for vertical movement of curtains from the bottom up. They can not only roll the web into a roll, but also move it to a user-defined level.

Panel. This is a fairly rare type of system that is tailored to work with curtain panels. First of all, they include Japanese canvases. Electric drives for working with panels have a combined control - automatic and mechanical. They are more expensive than other types.

For home use on wide and high windows, it is better to choose sliding systems. If the windows are narrow and high, or just small, it is better to pay attention to the lifting type options.

Management Varieties

Control of electric cornices can be performed according to one or several available schemes at once:

Stationary control. The easiest way to adjust the position of the paintings suspended on the electric curtain rod. In this case, a small panel is mounted on the wall, on which buttons or a touch screen with a simple interface are located. It contains several switches that change the direction of movement of the canvas. The programming function is not available in most of these remotes.

Remote control. A more modern, convenient and versatile way to control. Adjustment of position of a cloth is carried out from the remote control panel. Also in this category can be attributed automatic control based on the readings of light sensors and other irritants. Such systems are convenient for home use - there is no need to mount a panel in every room of the house.

Smart home control. Many ready-made solutions support smart home pairing. This opens up the possibility of setting multiple scenarios, as well as controlling the position of curtains over long distances. In this case, you can control the eaves from mobile devices, as well as via the Internet from a personal computer or laptop. Perhaps this is the most flexible way to manage.

Many modern solutions support both remote control and smart home connection.

Advantages and disadvantages of systems

Electric motorized curtain rods are a great modern alternative to classic curtain rods that are not as user-friendly. The technology under consideration is popular due to its many advantages:

Versatility. You can customize the system for any style of interior - at home, in the office, theater, etc.

Aesthetics. Today, there are many design solutions for electric curtain rods for every taste.

Convenience. Changing the position of the curtains is a matter of a couple of seconds. If you have a remote, you don't even have to get up.

Comfort. Even a child will cope with the movement of heavy curtains - just press the desired button.

Minimum noise. The electric drive does not make any sounds, the blades move as smoothly as possible.

There are only two disadvantages of the considered systems. The first is the rather high cost of ready-made solutions. The second drawback is the complex repair that will be needed in the event of a system failure. Especially expensive is the restoration or replacement of the electric drive, as well as the wireless control module.

Self-manufacturing of the system

Before you make electric blinds for your home with your own hands, you need to decide on the power of the motor. Make it simple. If the mass of your curtains is not more than 50 kg, a motor power of 75 watts is sufficient. If the blades are heavier, it is better to choose a 100 watt motor. The more power, the faster the canvas moves apart.

The best choice for making your own electric drive is an electric power window motor, which can be found in a car door. Such a motor is ideal, since the nature of its work is the same as that of finished drives - this is a reciprocating motion. Also, in order to make do-it-yourself electric blinds, you will need a cornice and a cable with fasteners for the fabric you use.

Assembly and installation process

You need to assemble the system in accordance with the diagram of the mechanical part of the drive below:

The power window drive is installed on the left, and the movable block with the wheel on the right. The cable, on which the curtains are suspended, is stretched between the block and the wheel of the electric drive. The circuit of the power section for powering the electric motor is assembled according to the diagram below. This requires soldering skills.

After assembling the power unit, you can proceed to the manufacture of the power unit. Its scheme is shown in the diagram:

You can see that the circuit includes a light sensor, the role of which is taken over by a photoresistor. It must be attached to the window so that it faces the street. The system is controlled by a remote control. Automatic and manual control of the drive operation is possible.

Ready-made systems of electric cornices

If making your own electric drive for home curtains is not for you, you can buy a ready-to-use solution. Today on sale you can find a large selection of automated schemes:

Astra ME. This option is widely used in hotels, private apartments and offices, as well as in places where curtains are hung at a high height. The movement of curtains is carried out at a speed of up to 12 meters per minute, power consumption - 65 watts. The device can be controlled by radio. It is possible to connect the equipment to the smart home automation system, which is very convenient.

somfy. Electric drives from this brand have a lot of convenient functions and scenarios. They keep the curtains moving smoothly and evenly. The drive does not make noise during operation, while it looks very stylish, as do the controls. You can connect the device to a smart home system, after which it will be possible to adjust the level of natural light at a great distance from your home.

Among the control systems for electric curtain rods, Herzborg, NOVO radio modules are very popular. Up to 99 motors can be connected to the first console at the same time, it operates at a frequency of 868 MHz. On the second one, you can configure the operation of up to 15 motors at once, the control is carried out using a frequency of 433 MHz.

Conclusion

Making automatic curtains for windows with your own hands is not so easy, and this will require certain skills in soldering and assembling electronic devices. If this is too difficult for you, or you do not want to spend time on this, consider ready-made solutions. Although it will cost more, you will save a lot of time.

Motor blinds
(video at the end of the review)
As part of the implementation of the "smart home" idea, I had a long-standing desire - to purchase electric blinds, or as they are sometimes called - "motorized blinds". Plastic windows have been installed for a long time, blinds (ordinary, aluminum) have been bought for a long time and perfectly perform their function. But here I set out to equip them with an electric drive. And having studied the offers on the market, I got a little prifegel from the prices! For one window, some companies offer electric blinds at a price of 30 thousand rubles! I have a 3 piece window. It turns out the price will be 90 thousand rubles! It's not even funny anymore... And I will definitely have to change the blinds, to the "correct" model, to which branded electric drives are suitable. In general, all this did not suit me, to put it mildly. On EBay, I also did not find normal options. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place? ... What would not be expensive, and you could fasten it to your existing blinds. After thinking about it at my leisure, I came to the conclusion that there is nothing complicated here, and you can do everything yourself.

And so, on the one hand, the topic is for those who have a great desire to get electric blinds, and on the other hand, there is the ability to work creatively with their hands

What we have?
Classic aluminum blinds. I have a three-leaf window, which means there are 3 blinds.

Like most similar blinds, the control here is implemented according to a simple classical scheme: pull the rope - raise the blinds up, twist the plastic stick (in one direction or the other) - the blinds open or close by turning.

Here actually there are variations of needs. The electric drive can be made to raise the blinds up. Or on turn of shutters (opening and closing). You can, of course, do both at the same time. Since in everyday life I most often use the mechanism for turning the "blades" when opening or closing a window, it was decided to make an electric drive for this.

I want to say right away that the implementation of the idea of \u200b\u200bhome-made motorized blinds does not limit your imagination. You can make control from the remote control, control by an external light sensor, a motion sensor, you can make automatic work on a timer (for example, the blinds close in the evening, open in the morning). And all this can be done almost at a simple, household level. You can use a regular timer that controls the outlet. Regarding the remote control from the remote control, you can also use numerous devices that are stuck between the outlet and the consumer, controlled remotely. These are now sold by the sea and they are not at all expensive. All this will be connected in an elementary way.

I personally do not need a wireless remote control. The wired remote, standing on the table near the computer, will completely triple me. I also don’t feel the need for a timer (at least for now). So in my review I will describe the implementation of "motorized blinds" for myself. Although there can be a lot of automation options here, of course. And not at all for the crazy money that all this is now on the market.

So:
The main idea was to create a mechanism that would not damage the blinds themselves and their design. I don't like ruining good things, so I was guided by the principle of making as few changes to the blinds as possible. I did it with an eye to the fact that it would be possible to disassemble everything and return the blinds to their original state.

The main center for the implementation of the idea are the motors. Having studied a little on EBay, I found all kinds of "motors" for sale for every taste. The main thing here is to buy a motor with a gearbox. This will allow, on the one hand, to choose (when buying) any required shaft rotation speed, and on the other hand, the rotation force will be sufficient to rotate the blinds handle.

Having estimated how many revolutions the shutter handle makes to open or close them, I settled on a motor with a shaft rotation speed of 15 revolutions per minute (in general, it could have been taken faster). The supply voltage is 12 volts. Looking for such motors on EBay is very simple. There are options with different rotation speeds. Everyone will be able to choose what they need.
In an EBay search we write: Motor 12v 15rpm(rpm - shaft rotation speed).

3 motors worth $ 13 apiece were bought and soon came to me from China.

It is very important that the motors are reversible. This means that when the polarity is reversed, the shaft can rotate in the opposite direction. Not all motors can do this. If you find it like in my photo, you can safely take it. They come in 15, 20, 30, 50 rpm, etc. and look the same on the outside.

Day of work and you're done! HOORAY!
You can lean back in your chair, drink coffee, who smokes - smoke

Video how it all works. The length of the cable at the remote control is 10 meters. The video can be viewed in HD quality directly on YouTube.:

Thank you for your attention to my review.
I will answer questions.
If you have other ideas / options for the implementation of electric drives for classic blinds, write, it will be interesting.
In my personal opinion, the designs that allow you to motorize any available blinds are of the greatest interest, and not buy some special models for a specific drive.

One day, after a hard day at work, I came home and realized that I wanted to relax, and not walk around and close the curtains. I would like to see them closed in the evening and open in the morning, while not dancing in front of the window. Googling different solutions, it was decided to do everything myself.

By popular demand, I post all my developments on converting ordinary roller blinds into automated ones with remote control. Beware, lots of photos!

Let's start with roller blinds:

Pros: roller blinds visually expand the space, beautiful and inexpensive. Very easy installation. You can manage each window separately. Frees up space on the windowsill.
Difficulties: manually opening 5 windows already takes a long time. The mechanism itself interferes with opening a completely corner window (example: the mechanism at the top of the balcony door rests against the wall and does not allow the passage to be opened completely). Because of this, it is necessary to hang curtains from the outside of the window. The price even for Chinese motorized curtains starts from 2000 rubles, we multiply by 5 and we immediately think how to do everything with improvised means.

A little about tasks:

It is necessary to add remote control to ordinary roller blinds from a hardware store and connect to a smart home on the openSource Home Assistant platform. And still it is necessary to keep the usual control of the rope.

Choice of motors:

If everything is automated, then the speed does not play a role, so you can use motors with a gearbox. Collector motors are cheap, but not the most reliable thing for daily use. Servo machines also have commutator motors and are not stable at constant rotation. Stepper motors look great. Silent, you can control the position, cost a penny. As a result, a set of 5 28BYJ-48 motors with a ULN2003 driver cost me $10

About the 28BYJ-48 engine:

There were questions about the power of this engine. Fears that he would be weak did not materialize. Or rather, if you use the full-step mode, then the engine is very frail, if you use the half-step mode, then the shaft cannot be stopped with your bare hands. To whom there will be little power, there are many articles on the Internet on how to raise the voltage, turn it into bipolar and other improvements.

About sensors:

Since we still have manual control, and we don’t want to drive the engine in vain, curtain position sensors are needed. A minimum of one sensor is required at one end, but two is better. You can use any terminal, optical, etc., but I personally chose the reed switch, because. gluing a neodymium magnet on the other side is very simple and should work stably and durable. I chose the reed switches themselves for aesthetics already in the case. Plus provided for setting the distance from the shaft. Height can be adjusted with spacers.

About the mount design:

The task was to design the case as simple as possible for manufacturing on a 3D printer with minimal modifications. Modeled in Fusion 360. The complete mount clings to the top of the window, but such a design on an FDM printer would be difficult to make with the required strength requirements, so a design with one screw for adjustment was invented.

In total, we got three parts for 3D printing. Link to download 3d models.

Main part for motor, control board on ULM2003, mounting for reed switches, motors, line to stabilize curtains, and adjusting screw.

A cover to cover all this disgrace. Clamp or otherwise hook.

The very design of the curtains contains several springs that work like a brake if you pull on the curtains (the spring tightens) or releases if you twist the rope.

When assembling, you need to do one refinement: break the rim that covers the rope with wire cutters, because. now we have our own fixed bezel, which prevents the rope from falling out.

Control:

The stepper motor will be controlled by NodeMCU on ESP8266. It was chosen because of its cheapness, the availability of a backup wi-fi channel, and it is quite easy to write the necessary scripts on it. If you need more than two curtains or additional sensors, then the legs of the microcontroller are no longer enough, you can look towards the ESP32. (esp32 is not shown in the photo, because it is in the junction box)

Software part:

The development environment can be any. The ESP32 can be programmed through the Arduino IDE. But I chose Visual Studio Code for myself because of the speed, modularity and free. In this environment, you can develop for almost any platform (not just hardware). You can even connect IAR ARM. (But that's a completely different topic)

The task of the program is simple:

Connect via WiFi
Connect to MQTT broker
Subscribe to a topic
Control the speed of two motors
Monitor the condition of the end sensors
Send broker current steps

Sources can be taken

The desire to equip a house with your own hands is not always associated with the need to save on the work of a specialist or finished products. Craftsmen are driven by the desire to surpass professionals. And often they succeed, even in such difficult cases as independent production of an electric drive for roller blinds. new test key

Why do you need an electric drive?

Installation of automatic blinds is recommended in large buildings, residential or non-residential buildings. This is necessary in order not to waste time adjusting the entire system. By programming the device, you can control all windows. In this case, each individual window is regulated independently of the others.
Automatic models have another indisputable advantage. The wear of the structure is much slower, since the same force is always expended during adjustment. Electric roller blinds can cost significantly more. In addition, it is necessary to pay for the work of the master who will install them if the buyer cannot do it himself.

Kinds

Separate 2 ways to control automatic roller blinds:

Remote. Curtains are controlled by a specially programmed remote control. A timer can be set on the device, which will enable the remote control to give commands at a certain time. Such a system works on the same principle as an alarm clock;
Stationary. To put such a mechanism into action, you need to press the button, which is mounted next to the window.

The most expensive models of blinds are equipped with photocells. They are sensitive to natural or artificial lighting, rising and falling at the right time. There is a misconception that automatic curtains make too much noise when operating. In fact, the presence of noise can only indicate the poor quality of the installation. If the design is installed correctly, the movements of the curtains will not bother you.

There are other classifications for motorized blinds, for example, according to the place of installation:

Ventilation. They are installed in the ventilation system. Such curtains are often used in industrial enterprises to protect the premises from extraneous noise or unpleasant odors;
For generators. Necessary in order to protect the generator from dirt and dust. Despite its name, this type of curtain is actively used in everyday life. There are built-in and overhead models. This design is necessary where particularly high requirements are placed on safety;
Outdoor. The main function is to protect the premises from the penetration of unauthorized persons, that is, burglary. In addition, the model protects from low temperatures and direct sunlight.

When making blinds at home, you can focus on the types of roller blinds with an electric drive given above. However, one should not forget that it is advisable to purchase ready-made designs for outdoor use. Roller blinds of our own production are only suitable for indoor use.

Do you need to be a professional?

Not only a specialist with the appropriate education can design an automatic system with his own hands. The assembly and installation technique is much simpler than it seems. Master classes presented on thematic resources and books on construction topics indicate step-by-step actions. However, certain skills are still required. If you have never had to carry out repairs, you should contact a specialist. This will avoid the unpleasant consequences associated with improper installation and unnecessary costs.

curtain material

In most cases, high-density fabric is chosen for the manufacture of blinds. However, other materials can also be used.

If the interior of the room allows, non-working floppy disks or CDs will be used to make curtains. This idea is suitable for a teenager's room, where excessive severity will look out of place. In an informal interior, you can use calendar cards or postcards. Even strips of leather might work.

First stage of work

If the decision to create a structure with your own hands has already been made, first of all, you need to decide on the size of future curtains. To do this, measure the window frame, since the length of the future product must match its parameters. Curtains can be large. But the difference usually does not exceed 12 cm. The width of the blinds must match the width of the frame. About 2 cm must be left for seizures.

When cutting the material, you need to prepare 2 patterns, since one of them will become the wrong side and the other the front side. Patterns are folded right side in and sewn. The resulting workpiece is turned out. In the bag, you need to sew up the remaining hole. If desired, you can choose different materials for each side. But according to experts, both blanks should be made of the same material.

It is not necessary to make curtains yourself. You can upgrade ready-made ones that include a plastic rod in the mechanism.

Second stage of work

At the next stage, the blinds need to be attached to a wooden beam. The width of the curtains should be 1 cm more than the length of the beam. Material for curtains should be spread inside out. In the upper part of the workpiece, an indent of at least 5 cm must be made. After that, a pre-prepared beam is laid. The material is tightly attached to it. For fixing, you can use a stapler. The rail should pull the curtain. In order to make this possible, you need to make a small pocket. The material must be wrapped by 3 cm. A beam is threaded into the resulting pocket.

Third stage of work

The electric drive can be bought at the store. However, some prefer to create it with their own hands. In order to assemble it yourself, you will need a bit extension and an electric screwdriver. The last element is powered by three batteries. First you need to disconnect the battery compartment. Power wires need to be extended. They are increased by 2 or 2.5 m. The gearbox and electric motor should be finalized. The need for this appears due to the fact that the drive will be installed in a limited space. The essence of the refinement is to reduce the body.

Fourth stage of work

The drive is attached to the blinds. The bit fixing extension is provided in a special stuffing box. You need to remove the stock cap. The first element is installed in the end of the winding body. It is necessary to ensure that the gland in the end is strengthened tightly enough.

A special bracket must be attached to the frame, on which the device will be fixed. Ties are required for the initial fixation of the electric drive to the blinds. Subsequently, the elements used for fasteners must be replaced with brackets. Installation is carried out in a horizontal position after the engine is mounted in its place. There is a reversing switch on the power supply. With its help, the work of the entire finished structure is controlled.

The electric drive can be presented in the form of a motor with a gearbox. To select the right model, you should consider the force of rotation of the shaft and speed. You need to purchase a unit whose power is at least 12 watts. The speed of rotation of the shaft, according to experts, should exceed 15 revolutions per minute.

Next, the engine is installed in a plastic box. Then you need to run the cable. The next step is the holding of buttons, which completes the process of manufacturing curtains with electric drive. You can supplement the finished design with the help of automation and stationary power supply. A model that includes such elements can move right/left if it is a vertical model, or up/down if it is a horizontal version.

Professionals advise to purchase an Arduino module. Experts highly appreciate this device. With its help, not only blinds, but also gates, heaters and some other devices and devices can be controlled. You can regulate the operation of the device using the module after a special program has been written for it. This is especially necessary in cases where the system will be installed on 2 or more windows. By lightly pressing the buttons, you can set the required closing or opening speed, raise the curtains completely or partially, and also carry out other necessary manipulations. The Arduino module allows you to program additional functions, among which the safety mode should be noted. This function is necessary in order to notify in a timely manner that certain failures have appeared in the operation of the module;

Leave yourself the opportunity to control the design of the blinds manually. No matter how high-quality the mechanism of the electric drive is, sooner or later a malfunction may occur. Possible breakdowns in which you have to install a new drive. Manual control allows, in case of imbalance, to synchronize the operation of the structure. The absence of dependence on the electric drive allows the use of curtains at a time when the motor is disconnected for replacement or repair;
Protect the mechanical part of the structure from dust and moisture that can enter the room through the window. In the kitchen, the electric drive is exposed to the adverse effects of soot and steam, which are released during cooking. The mechanism will fail sooner or later. However, the period of his work can be significantly stretched;
curtains by yourself
Since the actuator will require repair anyway, do not glue plastic boxes containing moving parts. Use staples to fasten them together. They can be removed if necessary.

Curtain offer by yourself for test

Electric roller blinds are another step towards coziness and comfort in your home. By taking care of their installation, you get the opportunity not to waste time adjusting the mechanism. In order to make and install curtains yourself, it is not necessary to have a technical education. new test key. Just be careful and be patient.

Electric blinds can be made by hand. Initially determine the size of the curtains. To do this, you need to measure the window frame or sashes. The length of the blinds must match the parameters of the frame. It is allowed to increase this indicator for curtains (compared to the frame) by 8-12 cm. You will need to leave 2 cm for allowances. The width of the blinds should be equal to that of the frame.

Main works

Do-it-yourself curtains with an electric drive are made using a fabric, a stapler, a tape measure, a level, an electric screwdriver. The next step involves cutting the fabric. You will need 2 patterns - for the inside and for the front side. The segments are connected inside out and sewn together. The curtain rolls out. The resulting gap is sutured and smoothed. Experts recommend using a fabric of the same color.

Types of blind drive control.

Blinds are mounted on a wooden beam, the length of which should be 1 cm less than the width of the curtain. To do this, the fabric is spread on a flat surface (wrong side up). An indent of 5 cm is made from above. Then the finished beam is laid. The support is wrapped in fabric. Wood and canvas are fixed with a stapler. In order for the rail to pull the curtain, you will need to make a pocket for it. The edge of the canvas is wrapped by 3 cm. The beam is threaded into this pocket.

To raise / lower the blinds, an electric drive is used. You can buy it ready-made or make it yourself. The last method involves the use of an electric screwdriver, a bit, an extension cord for bits. Initially, the screwdriver is disassembled. It is powered by 3 A4 batteries. The battery compartment is disconnected, the power wires are extended by 2-2.5 m. The electric motor and gearbox need to be finalized. This is due to the fact that the main drive will need to be installed in a narrow window space. In this case, the refinement of the device is associated with the shortening of its body.

Back to index

Motor selection rules

The device of rolled curtains with the electric drive.

The drive is easily connected to the curtain with your own hands. A bit extension is provided in the appropriate gland. The first element is installed in the end face of the winding housing of the blinds. Remove the stock cap first. This procedure is performed in such a way that the gland is tightly fixed at the end.

The device is mounted to a construction bracket fixed to the frame. Initially, the electric drive for curtains is fixed with ties. Then the fasteners are replaced with brackets. If the engine is installed, mount the blinds in a horizontal position.

You can control the operation of the structure using a reversing switch located on the power supply.

You can make blinds with an electric drive, presented in the form of a motor with a gearbox. When choosing the last unit, the speed and force of rotation of the shaft are taken into account. Experts recommend buying for this purpose motors with a shaft rotation speed of more than 15 rpm. The voltage of the reversing unit must not be less than 12 W.