Verdict
Not much more expensive than traditional wrench - cord operate blinds , the BlindsbyPost Somfy Motorised Blinds are a neat climb over dumb screen . Pre - configured , the blinds install like a regular set , while the integrate battery mean that there are no power cable to deal with . politic and quiet operation make these a pleasure to use , with the only minor drawback that the mechanism does n’t record country , so smart app ca n’t tell if the subterfuge are opened or closed .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
seek the likes of Amazon , and you ’ll find loads of retrofit smart mastery for subterfuge , which typically work by using a motor to operate the blind cable’s length .
slenderly unworthy and a bit fiddly to meet , these products are a overbold upgrade for exist blind , but they miss the quality and smoothness of a solidification of properly automatize blinds , such as the BlindsbyPost Somfy Motorised Blinds .
power using Somfy motors , these blinds are bombardment - power and rechargeable , hiding the motor mechanism inside the unsighted thermionic vacuum tube . With seemly sassy habitation bread and butter , these blinds can be controlled locally via remote or from the smartphone app .
Design and features
The lulu of the Somfy scheme is that it integrate the blind motor into the roller blind ’s thermionic valve . It ’s possible to buy these motors online to suit to your own blind , although you must corrupt the proper size for your blinds , and make trusted you ’ve get the extra , such as the Lithium - ION barrage fire pack . It ’s fiddly to get everything good , which is why it makes sense to go direct , such as with the BlindsbyPost Somfy Motorised Blinds that I ’ve been sent for reappraisal . These blinds use the same Somfy control and smart family interface as all Somfy blinds .
Having an integrated motor think of that there ’s little difference in the ordering cognitive process , compare to a unconstipated curing of roll blinds : follow the measuring instructions , based on whether you want the blinds recess or hanging over a windowpane / door , to give the breadth and drop of your blinds , pick your fabric and you ’re done .
Impressively , the difference in cost between mechanize and non - motorise blinds is n’t that much . Going for a set of caloric blind ( my power gets hot because of direct sunshine ) , I need a set that was 250 atomic number 96 wide with a 205 cm drop . A regular set of blinds be £ 181.58 at the time of revaluation ; the mechanise interpretation was just £ 200.50 . Almost a no - brainer .
However , the groundwork price does n’t include a couple of essential items : you ’ll ask a French telephone to operate them ( there ’s no manual control ) , and you do n’t get the charger , either . A charger be £ 13.50 . accord to the site , the battery charger has a 1.8 metre cable , although I measured mine to be a more utilitarian 3.9 m duration , which meant that I could tear my curler blind without having to habituate an extension cable . Realistically , you only need one courser , as they ’re compatible with all Somfy subterfuge , plugging into the send interface on the motor side of the blind , which is next to the conducting wire aerial that dangles loose .
Remotes vary base on feature film , but the standard Somfy Cruze 5 RTS Remote that I was sent costs £ 14 , and it can operate up to three different blinds , plus one mathematical group of multiple blinds at once . More expensive remote control are useable with wide-eyed blind supports , and extras , such as timer .
BlindsbyPost send its blinds with bracket ( not jailor or wall sparking plug ) , and has decent fitting instructions online . I observe it took around 20 mo to fit my blind , making sure that it was straight . The only supernumerary step , compared to even curler blind , was that I had to wake the motor up by tapping the reset switch on the motor side .
All Somfy RTS organisation , which BlindsbyPost employment , have up and down position , past which the blind wo n’t move . BlindsbyPost presets these based on the measurements that you provide . It ’s possible , base on how the blind have been fitted , that one or both of these might not quite be right . I plant that my blind slimly bunched up at the level ending .
Fortunately , it ’s jolly leisurely to overturn the defaults and reprogramme the remote and subterfuge for new positions . Plus , there ’s a ‘ My ’ release ( the unmarked middle button on my remote ) that puts the blinds to a third emplacement . For representative , I find that just over halfway is an first-class choice for me , as it obstruct the direct sunlight while I ’m working .
There ’s a keen nookie - in holder for the remote control , so I could hang the remote where it ’s most convenient .
So far so good , but these blinds can also be made smart by adding the Somfy Connectivity Kit , which BlindsbyPost charges £ 85 for , although you could bribe direct from Somfy for just £ 59 .
power by USB and connected via Wi - Fi , this Connectivity Kit render app control of your screen . It ’s straightforward to set up , and just need a release insistency on your remote control to learn the right RF signal to send to the blind .
There ’s aHomeKitcode underneath , although here this is useless : HomeKit only works with devices that have two - manner communication ; the Somfy RTS products are homeless . That is , the bidding is sent to them , but the blinds do n’t report back that the command was pick up or their current position , which means that an app ca n’t order if the subterfuge are clear or shut .
That means that it ’s not possible to gibe , when you ’re out , if you remember to keep out the screen or not , as the app wo n’t recount you .
From the Somfy TaHoma app , there ’s the same level of control as you get with the remote control : opened , tight and the ‘ My ’ position . It ’s handy having a outside ascendency like this , as the blinds can be opened and close while I ’m aside .
From the app , Scenes can be create , set which blind open and close . With the Connectivity Kit , only Manual view can be make ; if you want automation through the TaHoma app , the more expensive TaHoma Switch is required , which is also aZigbeehub that can put across with other fresh machine .
I do n’t really fancy paying the extra fee , so it ’s good to see that Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant bread and butter are included . As well as offering vocalism ascendance , although only undefendable and confining are supported ( not the special ‘ My ’ position ) , I could automatize my blinds using this organization , set my own schedule .
More importantly , by using Alexa I could automate when to open up and fill up my blinds : I arrange up a routine that mechanically opened the blinds when my Ring Alarm turned off , and close them again when the Ring Alarm drop dead into outside mode .
Performance
First , I have to say how subdued these blinds are . There ’s a slight motor whir while they run , but this is easily drowned out by euphony or goggle box , and the sound does n’t travel from room to room . preciseness is fantabulous , too .
As the unreasoning reaches its upper or low limitation , the motor slow up down for the last couple of centimetres , and I found that my roller screen stopped at the accurate same position each clock time .
Although this system is homeless , the remote dominance was reliable . I never had a problem with it not sending out the right signal . As well as using the remote to fully open or exit the blinds , I could also get them to stop at any position .
Smart home controller is in effect , while I found that the Connectivity Kit proved to be reliable , too . Using it with an Alexa Automation , I ’ve find that it opens and closes in complete sync with myRing Alarm , which certainly makes living easier .
Battery liveliness is excellent . A bearing should last for a couple of calendar month , and that seems to be so based on my testing . The only venial issue is that the homeless innovation means that the app ca n’t warn me about a low battery , and I have to look out for the status lead turn orange .
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Should you buy it?
These ones cost little more than a veritable set of blind , but give you far more options for control .
This system is stateless , so the app only gives basic control , rather than let you set multiple unreasoning positions .
Final Thoughts
compare to the regular circle of tumbler pigeon blinds , the BlindsbyPost Somfy Motorised Blinds are quite remarkable time value . There ’s a pocket-size issue of them not have any manual nullification should the battery fail , but with long lasting batteries this should n’t be an issue . I determine these blinds far neater than retrofit solutions , such as theSwitchBot unsighted TiltorSwitchBot Curtain .
If you require motorised blinds without paying a agiotage , these are a great pick : honest , smooth and neatly designed .
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FAQs
These blinds do n’t transmit state , which have them uncongenial with Apple HomeKit .
You need the optional TaHoma Connectivity Kit .
