Windows in an apartment or house are one of the key elements that combine several functions: aesthetic, ventilation and insolation. To give the window uniqueness and connect it with the design of the rest of the home, curtains are used, the designs and color schemes of which the market offers a huge variety today.

Living room interior with automatic roller blinds Somfy
Electric roller blinds are a very convenient invention

Description of roller blinds, mechanisms and models with electric drive

Roller blinds are one of the most compact solutions when choosing.

Houseplants on a plastic windowsill
Roller blinds are compact in themselves, and when placed on a window sash, they also leave the window sill free.

Advantages of roller blinds:

  1. Protection from direct sunlight – due to the tight fit to the glass, roller blinds provide more reliable blocking of light.
  2. Easy installation – no special tools or professional skills are required to install this type of curtains.
  3. Wide range of applications – roller blinds are suitable for almost any room: kitchen, living room, bedroom, office.
  4. Convenience – regular curtains and blinds require periodic washing/cleaning, while the roller version does not require washing. It is enough to wipe the fabric with a clean damp sponge – this is achieved due to a special protective coating.

The classic roller blind scheme consists of fabric wound on a shaft. The curtain fabric is treated with a special compound that protects it from dust and dirt. The shaft is attached to the frame or glass with PVC brackets. Self-tapping screws, double-sided tape or glue are used to attach the brackets.

Roller blind with bracket mounting
The simplest models of roller blinds have an open design.

A shaft with fabric curtains rolled into a roll is fixed horizontally at the top of the window so that the shaft is free to rotate and, if necessary, by pulling the edge of the fabric, it can be lowered to the bottom edge of the window.

The roller with the curtain fabric can be either placed in the housing or in the open position. The difference between these design features is only in the price and complexity of installation. Roller blinds with an open shaft are cheaper and easier to install.

Cassette type roller blind with guide strips
In cassette products, the fabric is hidden in the body, and the sides of the fabric can be fixed with the help of guides.

When the window is open, a draft may occur that will cause the curtains to move, so small magnets are used to fix the line.

A plastic rod is attached to the bottom edge of the curtains, with holes along the edges. A nylon, invisible but strong fishing line is passed through these holes, which acts as a guide, fixing the fabric on the sides.

Fastening the roller blind line to a plastic window
The fishing line holds the curtain when the window sash is open

They also use magnets to fix the curtains in the unfolded position, which are inserted into a horizontal rod and attached to the frame along the lower edge of the window. When closing the curtains, the magnets are attracted to each other, providing reliable fixation.

The mechanisms for driving roller blinds are very diverse, but they differ fundamentally in type:

  • manual;
  • automated.

Manual drive implies mechanical action on the control elements, the hand in this case is the control element.

Such an element can be a lever, a cord, a rotating rod or a spring mechanism that returns the curtain to the open state when its fixation is released.

Cassette curtain with spring mechanism
Curtains with a spring mechanism can be installed both at the top and at the bottom of the window sash.

An alternative to manual drive is automation. To raise and lower the canvas, electric DC motors or single-phase asynchronous motors are used, which receive a signal from the control unit, which in turn receives signals from the remote control.

Operating principle of automatic roller blind
With remote control, you won't have to get out of bed in the morning to open the curtains.

Automatic roller blinds are presented on the market in a huge assortment, the difference between models from each other, first of all, in functionality and quality.

Electric roller blind mounting unit
Electric drives for roller blinds are compact in size and are located inside the sleeve onto which the curtain fabric is wound.

Electric curtains can be either a separate element or part of the Smart Home system. Depending on the functionality of the automation, the opening and closing of the curtains can be programmed for specific opening and closing hours. Versions with settings for opening or closing the curtains when sunlight hits them are also possible.

Somfy roller blinds for windows with electric drive and remote control

One of the market leaders in the production of roller blinds with electric drive and remote control is the French company "Somfy".

Control of roller blinds with remote control
Somfy has established itself as a reliable manufacturer of electric drives and control devices for roller blinds

Somfi produces several variations of roller blind drives, there is plenty to choose from, and on the official website you can also order the product you like.

"LS40" is an electric drive that is located inside a round shaft and is activated by a microswitch.

Photo of an electric drive for installation in a Somfy roller blind sleeve
Electric drive for roller blinds series LS 40 Somfy

The switch can be taken out as a button, or integrated into the automation system and driven by a remote control. The main advantage of this type of roller blind drive is space saving.

Wiring diagram for the roller blind electric drive via a switch block
Controlling roller blinds with switches
Table with technical data of electric drives of the LS-40 Somfy brand
Technical parameters of the LS-40 series shaft drives

Another modification of the roller blinds intra-shaft electric drive is LT50. Its difference from its younger brother is that it is equipped with extreme position sensors. When the blinds are fully closed or opened, the sensors turn off the power supply to the drive.

Technical parameters of Somfy LT-50 series electric drives
Technical parameters of the LT 50 series shaft drives

Low-voltage electric drives are used to save space. The fact is that electric motors designed for 24 volts are much smaller in size than 220 volt motors.

The conversion of the alternating voltage of the 220 Volt network into a direct voltage of 24 Volt occurs using a transformer and a diode rectifier. They are located in the control unit.

In addition to saving space, low-voltage electric drives are less dangerous when exposed to moisture.
Autonomous electric drives WireFree use AA lithium batteries for power supply, which makes the installation of roller blinds independent of electrical wiring and the location of sockets.

Tube with lithium batteries above the roller blind
The power elements are usually placed in a separate tube.

The drive is equipped with a radio wave receiver and an infrared emitter. It can only be operated by remote control.

Electric roller blinds - operating principle

The operating principle of electric roller blinds with automatic or remote control can be divided into two components.

Control chain

In this chain, a command is formed or created for the power unit. Such a command in the form of an electrical impulse occurs when a button on the remote control is pressed or when a photocell, timer, etc. is triggered. Automatic and remote control are combined, that is, a command given by the sensor can be cancelled by the remote control and vice versa, the set timer will work at the specified time, but the remote control can cancel the action.

Wiring diagrams for electric roller blinds
The control circuit for a curtain with a 24-volt electric motor is somewhat more complex due to the power supply

The control circuit also includes protective fuses if a low-voltage drive is used - a step-down transformer and a rectifier bridge. The control circuit also includes position sensors, limit switches in the closed and open state.

Power section

The power section is a direct electric drive. This element directly converts electrical energy into mechanical rotation. When a signal is received from the control unit, the electric drive power circuit is switched on, and the latter, in turn, creates a torque on the shaft, which, under the action of this torque, starts moving.

Layout of the electric drive inside the roller blind sleeve
The electric drive is located inside the roller blind shaft

Advantages of installing roller blinds

Space saving – curtains are attached directly to the window, which means that for effective blocking from sunlight and prying eyes, you will not need bulky hanging curtains and large areas of fabric. Unpretentious in maintenance. Due to the special coating, the curtain repels dust, for cleaning it is enough to wipe the fabric with a damp sponge. Application in structurally complex rooms, which include rooms with large panoramic windows, verandas, and bay windows. Classic curtains with curtains for such solutions will be massive, and it is problematic to move them manually. Roller blinds can be mounted on each window bay, and remote control of a group of electric drives will allow you to open and close such curtains with one touch of a button.

Convenient control of roller blinds using an electric drive
Electric roller blinds are indispensable on large windows or where access to the blinds is limited.

Comfort. Remote-controlled curtains, using sensors and photocells, independently react to any weather changes. You can also set up timer operation, for example, closing curtains at night. The automation system can be integrated with the security system. When all residents leave the house, the curtains will close automatically. When the fire alarm is triggered, the roller blinds will open.

Disadvantages of roller blinds

Price. Of course, roller blinds with an electric drive and automatic control system will cost an order of magnitude more than a regular curtain rod.

The cost of one Somfi electric drive with a control system ranges from 8,000 to 32,000 rubles.

Office design with electric roller blinds
When buying, you should pay special attention to the quality of the electric drive. The more reliable the electric motor, the longer the service life of the curtain

The need for power supply. If you use a WireFree type electric drive, you will inevitably have to change the batteries periodically. When choosing a low-voltage drive, you need to take care of the power supply to the installation site in advance. Also, the operation of electric curtains directly depends on the serviceability of the electrical network. Any force majeure blackout at the substation will put the curtains out of order. Like any automation, the curtain control system can fail and the help of an electronics specialist will be required for repairs. Electronic curtains for windows are no exception.

Electric roller blinds in the interior: examples and photos

There are a huge number of options for using roller blinds. Roller blinds look great in the following living spaces:

  • in the kitchen;
  • in the children's room;
  • in the bedroom.
Translucent curtains with electric drive on large windows
The design of roller blinds should match the interior of the room.
Light green roller blinds in the kitchen interior
For the kitchen, curtains made of synthetic fabrics that are resistant to dirt and moisture are more suitable.
Design of a nursery for a preschool child
To decorate the windows in the baby's room, use curtains with images of fairy-tale characters or other images of children's themes.

Roller blinds are more appropriate to use in cases where there is a large panoramic window, which can be covered with a curtain with a classic fabric, but it will be difficult to move it from its place during operation.

White curtains with electric motor on the window with balcony
For windows facing the shady side of the house, it is better to choose light fabrics.
Brown curtains made of thick material
Conversely, thick curtains in dark colors are the best protection against hot sun rays.

Also, windows located in a bay window are much easier and more aesthetically advantageous to cover with roller blinds.

Decorating bay windows with roller blinds
In the bay window, a separate curtain is installed on each sash.

A summer veranda with panoramic windows along the entire wall or openings will also be the place where electric roller blinds will fit perfectly.

Veranda of a country house with roller blinds
For the veranda, it is necessary to select models designed for outdoor use.

Video: Somfy Electric Roller Blind

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