Bulletin: RollerTrol™ Automation Systems is Launched!
- We have been busy making and selling roller blinds and projector screens for some time, and we have decided to start selling the components at
RollerTrol.com so others can do the same.
- Take a look at our online store for tubular motors and other associated products - make your own custom shade or screen size
that fits your room perfectly! We also have special motor kits that work with x10 automation systems.
- While you're at it, check out our tubular motors with built-in radio controllers. When used with our multi-channel remotes, you can control the screen AND blackout blinds with a single remote!
End Bulletin: RollerTrol™ Automation Systems
x10 can be
used to automate just about any appliance that you can think of. In my smart home, I use
the products from X10 (For complementary
home automation products such as lighting control and motorized blinds and shades, see our home automation DIY kit article)
My day usually starts around 5 AM and
I
like to have coffee in the morning. I like it ready when I hit the deck
in the morning, but I also like it fresh, so I don't want a timer
solution for my coffee pot either. Thus, I have it plugged into an
appliance module and I keep a small mini-remote by my bedside so that I
can turn it on when I wake up. By the time I get downstairs, it's ready.
I usually have a Jacuzzi bath in the morning as well, and I find it
convenient to use a mini remote beside the tub when I want to turn the
jets on and off, rather than having to reach up to the wall switch every
time (which was positioned by the installer on a wall requiring that I'm
actually out of the tub). I find the jets therapeutic, but I also like
to soak quietly at times, without the noise and vibration. By using the
battery operated wireless remote, I'm also safe from any electrical
hazard.
The remote sends a radio control signal to the transceiver, which in
turn sends the signal along the power line to the central house
controller. The controller listens for this code and responds by sending
a control signal back over the AC line to a relay module
(for complementary home automation products such as lighting control and motorized blinds and shades, see our home automation DIY kit article)
installed in the pump motor line (it was hard wired to a
junction box, not plugged into an outlet). At the same time as it
receives an 'on' signal, the controller also starts a 15 minute
'countdown' timer which issues an 'off' signal at zero minutes so that
the pump is turned off if it somehow ever got turned on by accident with
nobody around (believe it or not, one of my cats has actually done
something like this). I also have a master switch on the wall that
must be on before the Jacuzzi motor will work.
I also have a steam generator installed in my shower stall which I like
to enjoy after a hot bath. It is nothing more than a big electric kettle
plugged into an appliance module in the cupboard behind the shower
stall. The steam is piped from the spout directly into the stall, where
it comes into contact with essential oils that effuse into the
steam, creating very pleasant aromatics that I find help a great deal
with my breathing. I use the remote by the bath to turn the steam on so
that it's ready when I'm finished with the tub. It uses the same kind of
controller macro to turn itself off if I forget (or is accidentally
turned on).
Note that because these systems do make use of a script
downloaded to the central controller (unlike some of my simple lighting
systems), you must use a different address code for both the remote
control and the activating module. In other words, for example, the
controller receives 'on' code A10 from the remote (via the wireless
transceiver) and responds by sending out 'on' code B14 to the control
module. At the end of the countdown period, the controller also sends an
'off' code B14 to the control module.
I also have several misting humidifiers that come on 
during
the day to counteract the dryness of the electric baseboard heating. The
piezoelectric element in the bowl generates a fine mist from the water
in the bowl that picks up pleasant aromatic scents from the open jars of
essential oils placed at the base.
It would also be possible to automate the filling of the bathtub by
using the type of valve covered in my water
page. The list of things you can do with the x10 system is endless; these are
just a few of the scenarios I have created. I also have my garage door
opener controlled from the built-in system in my car ...
Lately, we have been installing motorized window blinds, window openers, skylight openers, and drapery systems. Here are some links to DIY websites in western Canada and USA:
Western Canada Blinds, Shades, Drapes, Window and Skylight Openers:
Regina Blinds And Shades
Description - Regina Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Regina.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Calgary Blinds And Shades
Description - Calgary Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Calgary.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Edmonton Blinds And Shades
Description - Edmonton Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Edmonton.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Saskatoon Blinds And Shades
Description - Saskatoon Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Saskatoon.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Winnipeg Blinds And Shades
Description - Winnipeg Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Winnipeg.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Kelowna Blinds And Shades
Description - Kelowna Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Kelowna.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Victoria Blinds And Shades
Description - Victoria Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Victoria.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Vancouver Blinds And Shades
Description - Vancouver Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades and drapery systems in Vancouver.
Arduino compatible DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, window and skylight openers, etc.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled individually or in a group by a single remote.
Western US Blinds, Shades, Drapes, Window and Skylight Openers:
Seattle Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Seattle Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Seattle area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Everett Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Everett Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Everett area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Tacoma Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Tacoma Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Tacoma area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Spokane Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Spokane Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Spokane area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Olympia Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Olympia Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Olympia area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Portland Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Portland Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Portland area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
San Francisco Bay Area Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Bay Area Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Los Angeles Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Los Angeles Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Los Angeles area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
San Diego Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - San Diego Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the San Diego area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
Palm Springs Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - Palm Springs Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the Palm Springs area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
LA Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - LA Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the greater Los Angeles area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
San Francisco Blinds, Shades, Drapery
Description - San Francisco Blinds And Shades supplies motorized blinds, shades, drapery systems and window openers in the San Francisco area.
DC tubular motors are used for roller blinds, shades, motorized drapes, skylight shades, projector screens.
With battery backup, and solar power, Rollertrol™ motors can be controlled in a group or individually by a single remote.
