Automate Panel Track Blinds?

Other Devices & Integrations Garage & Window Covering Control
1

Does anyone have any experience with automating Panel Track Blinds?

I have a wall in my condo that is all glass and has a sliding door in the middle. About 12 ft wide and 10 ft high. This setup seems perfect for some center split Panel Track Blinds but I really want to automate them. I don’t want to use the Hunter Douglas over priced blinds either.

I was thinking of getting a Budget Blinds or Next Day Blinds installation but I haven’t been able to find any automation of the Panel Tracks. I was looking at the Somfy Glydea system but that looks like its only a single track set up and I think a lot of Panel Tracks use multiple tracks.

Any advice and guidance is appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

2

There are a few motorized panel tracks on the market, but none of them Z-Wave. You might consider using a Glydea drapery track to drive a manual panel track. This will add to the cost and also to the depth dimension of the system, but it operates nicely. I don’t think the Z-Wave module for Glydea gives any feedback for position, but I will check to be sure, so you might be fine with any radio operated motorized drapery track. You just attach the master carrier of the drapery track to the leading panel of the panel track. It should also work for split draw systems. You might have to play around with the mounting heights of each system to get them aligned.

3

Thanks for the reply! You’re definitely the go-to guy for blinds! I appreciate it!

Could you elaborate on how I would use the Glydea to drive the manual panel track?

I was under the impression that the Glydea would be its own sized track and the panel tracks would have their own style / size as well. Do you mean keep the Glydea on the outside (or inside) and just have no panels attached to it and just connect the lead of the Glydea to the lead of the panel tracks (and just pull it along)? Assuming I could fashion something up to connect them.

Also, are there any other drapery tracks that are z-wave compatible that may be cheaper than the Glydea but still work well?

Thanks for the help!
Chris

4

Panel tracks typically have the operable panels in the rear, so the drapery track would sit between the panel track and the window/door. The master carrier of the track can be bent and attached to that rear panel and as it draws across it will catch the next closest panel, and then the next panel, until the window treatment is completely closed.

You might ask zwavemotors.com about a Z-Wave drpaery track other than Glydea, or my Lowes had DIY motorized drapery tracks now that aren’t Z-Wave but you could take the remote and solder some wires to it and run it through a relay board attached to Vera as I describe here:

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,11865.msg115641.html#msg115641

5

As per Shady, the motorized drapery track is between the panel track and the glass, you will need 2" depth to fit the drapery motor. Then attach the master carrier (s if center close) to the first moving panel. Motor is 120V, native Z-Wave, positioning and reporting every 10%. 12’ Would ship folded to save on freight, some re-assembly necessary… info@zwavemotors.com