After lights, one of the easiest and cheapest items to automate the house without getting a full upgrade of curtains is to get one of Switchbot's Curtain Rod 2. This curtain opener and closer that can open with your standard automation commands. Wake up in the morning to fresh sunlight without having to get up. Close the curtain when it's raining or cloudy. This little gadget will open those curtains (as long as it's on a rod-see product specifics for the rod type). Getting a fully automated curtain can easily cost upwards of $500 (I've got one). If you have 2 Curtain bots, you can program them to control both at once so that each curtain on the left and right open and close from the middle.
Overall the setup requires the Switchbot MiniHub or Hub 2. Setup is simple to do. Attaching the device onto the curtain is simple. Hook it up so the light sensor is at the window, and lift the roller onto hanging hooks.
Automated Control is through the app. You can have it open or close completely, or only to a certain percentage open. However if you tug on the curtain enough, the Switchbot curtain will detect that it's moving along and move to completely open and close the curtain. All it needs is a bit of a tug and the device will do the rest of the work.
I've had this one a few types of curtains. It does really well with shears (50% opacity?) since they're lightweight. But it has some trouble with heavy curtains such as the full length 84" or 92" full blackout curtains.
Battery life is around 2 months for the heavier weight curtains. However, Switchbot also offers a solar panel to charge the switchbot so it is always topped off with a charge. Switchbot Curtain is not the only product that works with window coverings - they also have the blind tilt that rotates blind rods.
This is a simple and cheap way to give your home automation a bump.
Disclosure - When you buy something through our site, we may earn some compensation by clicking through on our affiliate links. See our Disclaimer
Composting is a process of decomposition of organic materials which breaks down into a dark brown crumbly “earthy” substance that can be used to supplement and provide rich nutrients to soil. Some useful items that can be composted such as leftovers or vegetable scraps, which usually goes into the trash can could be diverted to
Read MoreThere’s a lot of ways to get IoT devices connected through to the Internet. Usually they’re connecting through a hub (via Zigbee or Z-wave), Bluetooth, or WiFi. But connecting so many devices can start leading to issues.
Read MoreAbode is a DIY security system which can be self-monitored, or professionally monitored. With self monitoring, the system has integration with Google, Alexa, and Homekit, but with as little as $6/month Abode can be integrated into other home automation systems such as Home Assistant. The real value comes in when going to the Pro monitoring.
Read MoreQuick update on the progress of Avalon – There are a few projects with contractors that are coming in. One of them involves getting solar panels and the powerwall. In this area, we’re prone to wind and fire, and the last couple of times, the power company decided to give us a rolling blackout for
Read MoreI’ve been trying to set up my home network so that I can access specific servers, computers, or devices on general so i can get data, files, or control the home automation while I’m away. I’ve tried many things, but it hasn’t successful.
Read MoreFinding Synology NASIn the past way long ago, I was lured into the expensive black hole called photography. I had one of the most popular DSLR cameras at the time (Nikon D90), and with it came RAW files that processing of large files on multiple computers brought about a new challenge. Where to store all
Read More
0 comments