When NOT To Use a Battery-Powered Motor
The daunting cost of installing wiring for electric blinds can lead a lot of people down the route of battery-powered motors. These motors are a great retrofit solution as they are:
- Easy to install – no wiring needed
- Can be controlled via remote or smart home system
- Tend to be cheaper than a mains powered motor
But when should you avoid battery motors? Are they suitable for every project or are there instances they won’t do the job? Let’s discuss.
Building Management Systems
Whilst most manufacturers offer a battery-powered motor, these usually only come with one means of control, specific to that supplier. For example, a Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WF battery motor can only be controlled using the RTS frequency. This means you can use it with Somfy’s remotes, wireless switches and TaHoma smart home hub, but that’s all.
If your project requires you to use a specific BMS (Building Management System), perhaps one that’s already installed in the building, you may be best to offer a motor that give you more control options. The main benefit of a wired, mains powered blind is that it can be connected to and controlled by multiple different systems and hubs. This is either done by connecting to the motor through a relay, or via digital communication.
Most wired mains powered motors don’t have to be connected to a system by the same manufacturer as the motor, so there is much more freedom to choose the correct system for each building’s needs and wants.
Large Blinds
A standard battery motor for blinds tends to be fast but weaker than a mains powered one, which means the size of your blind is limited. There are some exceptions to this, with some very powerful battery motors on the market, but these come with a higher price tag and can be too noisy for some residential properties.
Typically a mains powered motor is going to have a much larger lifting capacity than a battery-powered one. This makes them capable of operating blinds and curtains at much larger sizes. We regularly use mains powered motors on our KuroLok Twin RL rooflight blind, which can be manufactured up to 6m long, with no issues from the motor during operation.
Maintenance
Battery-powered blinds need to be charged every few months, so nearby access to a standard household plug socket or extension lead is beneficial. This also means you’ll need to occasionally access your blinds, so if they’re high up or concealed, this could be inconvenient.
A mains powered blind is constantly connected to power so it doesn’t need to be charged like a battery motor does. This means the blind won’t suddenly run out of battery and need to be charged without warning, which can be inconvenient. However, all motorised blinds can be affected by losses in power, internet connection or disruptions to the radio signal if that’s how they are controlled.
There are positives to both options and deciding which one is best for you is going to be entirely dependant on the specific needs and requirements of each project.
If low installation costs and ease of installation are most important, then a battery solution is likely to be the best choice for you. However, if wiring into a control system or shading a very large window is your aim, then a mains powered solution is going to offer more choices.
Knowing which options are available and the pros and cons of both will mean you are in the best position to recommend a solution to your clients, or to choose which one works best for you.
For more information on our blind systems, from rollers to rooflight blinds, click here:
For more information on motorisation or home automation, check out some of our other blogs: