Electric Wooden Blinds

Frequently Asked Questions about Electric / Motorised Wooden Blinds

Can I control electric wooden blinds with a handset?

Using SOMFY's radio protocol (RTS), radio-operated wooden blinds can be operated using your choice of single or multi-channel handsets which allow one or more blinds to be controlled simultaneously or individually. "Scroll wheel" handsets allow precision tilt of the slats.

Can I control my electric wooden blinds from a phone or tablet?

If you purchase blinds with SOMFY radio-operated motors along with a hub such as SOMFY's Tahoma Switch, then the hub will allow you to control the blinds using an app downloaded to your phone or tablet. Remember, you will still need a handset to pair the blind motors with the hub.

Can electric wooden blinds be controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant?

Once you have paired your blinds with SOMFY's Tahoma Switch, you will be able to integrate Tahoma with a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. For Alexa, for example, this involves downloading SOMFY's Tahoma "skill" to your Alexa device, you can then import 'scenes' from Tahoma into Alexa. For example, a scene might be called "close bay window blinds" in Tahoma, and this would allow you to say "Alexa, ask Tahoma to close bay window blinds". 
App Control and Voice Activation using Amazon Alexa available here or you can simply add Tahoma to your blind when configuring it! 

Can I integrate Electric Wooden Blinds with my Smart Home system? 

In addition to controlling via. low-cost voice assistants, you can also integrate your electric blinds with most smart home systems. Examples include Control4, Crestron, RAKO, Lutron, Lightwave and Fibaro. There are a few options for integration.
If you wish to order radio-operated wooden blinds, then you can purchase a bridge device such as the RS485 RTS Transmitter which has 16 channels and is therefore capable of controlling up to 16 groups of blinds, or 16 individual blinds. Your smart home system will need to be capable of outputting RS485 control protocol.
Relay-operated wooden blinds can be wired directly to the blind control unit of your smart home system or BMS.

How do I control relay-operated wooden blinds?

Relay-operated electric wooden blinds can be hardwired to the switching relay of any smart-home or building management system (BMS) that has the ability to switch a 230vAC motor with a 3-core cable. Relay-operated blinds use mechanical motors and unlike radio-operated motors, these motors have no in-built digital intelligence. Upper and lower limits are set mechanically, in the factory. The blinds will stop at the mechanical limits, but to avoid the motor being damaged you will need to be able to figure "run times" via your controller, so that directional power is only applied for the duration of travel of the blind.  There is also no facility to configure an intermediate position, which makes achieving a specific angle of tilt more tricky. To achieve tilt, your smart-homes installer will need create a short control command to operate the blind from the bottom limit to your preferred angle of tilt. This makes the alignment of multiple blinds virtually impossible. It's really important that you do not wire multiple relay-operated wooden blinds back to a single relay output as this can damage the motors and does not provide functioning operation, causing the blinds to bounce (or yo-yo) and lose/damage their mechanical limits.

How are electric wooden blinds powered? 

If you have no cabling or mains power in place at your window, then our 12vDC motors are the ideal solution because they allow the motors to be powered by a rechargeable battery. You can also supplement this battery with a solar panel, to harvest the sun's energy and trickle charge the battery. These power options make our electric wooden blinds simple to install and a dream for retro-fit installations. 12vDC motors also allow the use of a plug-in power supply if you have a 3-pin mains plug socket nearby.
For those in a position to lay cables and install fused spurs, we have both 230vAC mains-powered motors. These can be either radio-operated or relay-operated motors. As discussed above, the relay-operated motor will need to be wired back to a compatible controller, which will both power and control the blind. The radio-operated motor will need to be wired back to a switched and fused mains spur.

Can I fit blinds to UPVC windows myself?

Answer: Yes, you can fit blinds at UPVC windows yourself. Fitting blinds to UPVC windows is a relatively simple process that can be done by most homeowners. If you are not comfortable fitting blinds yourself, you can hire a professional to do it for you.
 

Are your electric wooden blinds suitable for bay windows?

Yes, our electric wooden blinds can be made to fit perfectly in bay windows. We offer a variety of installation options to suit your needs, including top fix, side fix, and face fix. As an alternative, if you aren’t yet decided on electric blinds, Perfect fit blinds for bay windows are a great solution as they install directly to the frame of each window in the bay. They are available as a wooden venetian blind product and are operated with a discrete tab handle.

Since they are installed to the individual panes of the bay window, this much simplifies the measuring and install process, and keeps your window sills free. The blinds move with any opening panels also and they are held within a stylish frame which once installed appears as an integral part of the window and stops the blinds from swinging and clattering when opening and closing the windows.
 

What are the benefits of shutter blinds for windows?

Perfect Fit Shutter blinds for windows are stunning window treatment that can add style and privacy to any room. They are also a good choice for blocking out light and noise. Shutter blinds are made of slats that can be adjusted to let in varying amounts of light. This makes them a good choice for rooms where you want to control the amount of natural light.
 

What sets electric wooden blinds apart from other types of blinds?

Electric wooden blinds offer a perfect fusion of traditional aesthetic and modern convenience. They bring the natural beauty of wood into your rooms, while providing optimal light control and privacy. But what sets these blinds apart is their in-built motorisation. With a simple remote control or a smart device, you can adjust them to your preferred position both raising and lowering the blind as well as tilting. If you enjoy the benefits of motorisation but prefer a different style, you might also consider motorised pleated blinds.
 

Can I install Intu screw-fit blinds on wooden windows?

The standard INTU blinds that we sell on our site are a beadfit design which is designed for UPVC windows. However, if you contact customer services we can get the INTU screw fit blinds for wooden windows for you. We will need the glass dimensions and the blind type that you would prefer to enable us to get a price for you from the factory.
 

Can electric wooden blinds be suitable for bay windows?

Electric wooden blinds for bay windows can be a great solution. These blinds not only bring elegance and luxury to your living space but also offer excellent control over light and privacy. Battery powered also eliminates the need for mains power to the window. If there is an obstruction of, for example, furniture in the bay and the windows are hard to reach, being able to control the blinds from a distance via RTS remote makes perfect sense.
 

What is the maximum width for electric wooden blinds on your website?

Our electric wooden blinds are custom-made to your specific sizes. However, due to the weight of the wood, there is a maximum width limit which the motors are capable of lifting. Typically, the maximum width we can manufacture for our electric wooden blinds is 240cm. So, if you need wide blinds and your preference is for a wood slat blind, ensure your window measurements don't exceed this limitation. Double-check your measurements beforehand to make sure your new electric wooden blinds fit perfectly.
 

Can I install wood blinds in my kitchen?

Yes, our wood blinds are a great addition to the kitchen. Our electric operation feature allows absolute control over light and privacy, making your kitchen experience more comfortable. However, it's important to consider that wood blinds in some kitchen environments could potentially be exposed to high humidity and splashes, which may cause the natural wood slats to warp over time. We do recommend you ensure they are not in direct contact with water or steam from the stove to keep your blinds looking their best for longer. If in any doubt, we would suggest considering long-lasting faux wood blinds which are made from humidity and water-resistant PVC.