Verdict
For proprietor of the original , there ’s not much reason to upgrade . For those appear for way of life to automate their existing curtains , the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is a swell rise to much any mantle magnetic pole . The kit necessitate the optional Hub Mini to let loose its full potential , and the Remote could be more powerful , but those quiddity away , this is a neat climb to almost any home .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
SwitchBot ’s original Curtain robotmade it dewy-eyed to automate practically any set of curtain . Now , the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 promise to do the same thing , only this set is gentle to install , quieter and more powerful .
It works well , and reliably , with just a few small-scale result getting in the direction .
Design and installation
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is design to work with curtain rod only , with separate models useable for U- and I - rail mantle , although the canonical software is the same for these versions . young to this variation is the facility method acting .
When I review the original SwitchBot Curtain I found that it was a little fiddly to establish : get the robot to transfix too fast and it would get wedge ; too unaffixed and it would n’t move at all . Here , SwitchBot has made things easier .
With this theoretical account , two arms hold the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 in place , but you remove one before appointment . The remaining branch levels up , and you simply grip it around the curtain pole , then clip the 2nd arm into place , reattaching it to the automaton ’s trunk . SwitchBot has some excellent videos that explain how to do this for different types of curtains .
My curtains just needed the golem to be installed , but some require the chain of beads to be clip on to help the mantle gang up and blossom forth the right way . Again , there are splendid TV that show you how .
I found that it only look at me a duad of moment to get my SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 curtain establish , which was way faster than the installation for the original models . It ’s possible to see the robot peaking over the top of the curtains , but overall I did n’t find them too despicable or obtrusive .
As with the original , the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is battery - powered , charge via its USB - C remark . However , there ’s also an optional solar panel that sticks to the back of a curtain , so you may keep the curtains topped up for costless . you may buy a gang of two solar instrument panel for around £ 33 .
Features
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 use Bluetooth to connect to the app , so you have to be in compass of the equipment to install it . Once add to the app , there ’s a choice of configure a undivided bot or as a dyad control two curtains over a windowpane .
In both casing , the initial conformation helps the Curtain Rod 2 acquire where the fully undetermined position is and the to the full closed position . Once done , the app can be used for warm control ( fully open or fully closed ) , or you’re able to dive into the advanced setting and set the robot to move to any position .
That ’s useful , but who wants to dive into an app every time you desire to open up and shut the mantle ? Fortunately , there are multiple control condition options . By nonremittal , the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 will react when you set about to close or open curtains automatically . smartly , if you ’ve got a pair of Curtain Rod 2 bots , opening or close one will do the same thing on the other one .
More utile is the SwitchBot Remote , a wireless chic electric switch that can be geminate with the bot to give you touch - dominance to open up and close down a curtain ( or pair of curtain ) . The Remote can only be paired to one drapery ( or a couplet ) , which is a little thwarting . In the room that I was prove in , I have three curtains : one over a little window and a pair over two larger window . I ’d like the pick to have the removed control all three drapery at the same meter .
As the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 uses Bluetooth , the only way to get remote control is to set up the SwitchBot Hub Mini , a pocket-sized Wi - Fi enabled gimmick . Once installed , the app break the option to turn on swarm control feature film for the curtains .
apart from remote control , hold the Hub give Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant restraint , so drape can be open and closed with a articulation command .
Scenes can be created , too , which does let you determine a tantrum where two or more curtains can be operate at the same time . As scenes are available in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant , it ’s potential to trigger multiple curtains to operate at the same time with just one spokesperson mastery .
Unfortunately , it ’s not possible to get a SwitchBot Remote to spark off a fit , and the control can only be manually paired to one machine , which is a footling limiting . For automation , using a third - party system , such as SmartThings or IFTTT , may be easy .
Light Sensing is built into the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 , and illuminance level data is collect mechanically , display on a graph between 0 ( dark ) and 10 ( very smart ) . Curtains can be automated based on the faint floor , closing or open up them mechanically base on the point of ambient light .
For model , you could exclude the curtains when it ’s very bright , but unfold them again when it mystify dark . I found the light sensitivity to be very estimable , although it ’s deserving restricting the times the automation can bunk so that pall do n’t , for example , unresolved when it ’s dark outdoors and bedtime .
It ’s slenderly frustrating that there ’s no ‘ break of day ’ or ‘ sunset ’ limitation , and only hard times . strain to nibble times when a normal wo n’t run that applies all year round can be quite grueling .
I could also schedule times for the curtains to open and close automatically , which is ready to hand when I go away , as I can make it face as though someone is household . And , as with the original , if you buy the SwitchBot Meter , I could open and close curtain ground on the ambient temperature and humidness level .
Performance
The master difference between the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 and the original is in motion . I found the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 quieter than the first model , with just a small electronic wine as the curtain open up or closed .
Sure , I could hear the golem in operation , but give that you ’ll likely be awake when operating your drapery , this really does n’t count .
With wheels on the top and behind the drapery perch , I find the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 a slimly better performer . While the original SwitchBot Curtain would occasionally jitter along as it moved , I find the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 much smoother .
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Should you buy it?
If you ’ve got obtuse curtains that you need to make smart , this is a great raise for any house .
If you want a neater solution with nothing on display , a set of smart curtain tracks with the technolog plant will be a honest choice .
Final Thoughts
If you ’ve already got the SwitchBot Curtain Rod , then there ’s not much here to make upgrading worthwhile . Indeed , both products have the same features and limitations . However , if you desire to automate your dumb pall from scrape , the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is a not bad rise working with almost every type of curtain pole . I ’d like to see a few more automation options , and I ’d like a fashion of establish a Remote work with more than one curtain ( or couple of curtains ) . That aside , this is a heavy product .
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FAQs
This version ferment with curtain poles only .
It connects via Bluetooth to the SwitchBot app or Remote strong-arm control ; for internet command , you need the SwitchBot Hub Mini .
