I’ve seen several posts here about modifying Lowes blinds with Somfy motors etc., but Lowes Online lists Levelor blinds with Iris integrated. Is this incorrect? If not is this Iris implementation ZigBee or ZWave?
Also interested…
Here’s a video from over a year ago but I haven’t seen them in stores yet.
[quote=“integlikewhoa, post:2, topic:183853”]Also interested…
Here’s a video from over a year ago but I haven’t seen them in stores yet.
Interesting that in the video they refer to “Zwave Pairing” 
Iris is both a Z-Wave and proprietary devices use ZigBee. I have the Somfy that worked with IRIS and I moved it over to Vera without a problem. Somfy motors can be used with many different blind vendors i.e. Garber, Levelor. So you just need to verify with the Levelor blind distributor what they are using. You may also need a Somfy ZRTS to zwave converter. The Somfy motor is really running on RTS and the Somfy also has a 16 channel ZRTS to Zwave converter (purchased separately), which is what IRIS is actually using to control the somfy RTS motors.
So, does Lowes have a direct integration with the Levelor blinds?? probably not. It is still going through a Somfy ZRTS to Zwave converter for the integration. But hey… let me know if you find some thing else that says otherwise.
-jcd
[quote=“jcd, post:4, topic:183853”]Iris is both a Z-Wave and proprietary devices use ZigBee. I have the Somfy that worked with IRIS and I moved it over to Vera without a problem. Somfy motors can be used with many different blind vendors i.e. Garber, Levelor. So you just need to verify with the Levelor blind distributor what they are using. You may also need a Somfy ZRTS to zwave converter. The Somfy motor is really running on RTS and the Somfy also has a 16 channel ZRTS to Zwave converter (purchased separately), which is what IRIS is actually using to control the somfy RTS motors.
So, does Lowes have a direct integration with the Levelor blinds?? probably not. It is still going through a Somfy ZRTS to Zwave converter for the integration. But hey… let me know if you find some thing else that says otherwise.
-jcd[/quote]
In the video they do discuss both “ZWave Pairing” and the “RTS” so yes what you say is true. However, I don’t really care how they got there the real question in my mind was could I go the Lowes, buy the blinds and integrate it to Vera and the answer to that appears to be yes.
Are we talking about these?
[quote=“alienz, post:6, topic:183853”]Are we talking about these?
Yes.
The description on these says ‘Iris technology’ where the specifications say ‘Iris Technology : no’. Anybody bought these and can confirm what would be needed extra to make these talk to Vera? Tempted to install these in the bedroom for temp control and darkening rather than the curtains I have now. Both for a cleaner look and for automated control. Perhaps even the living room window…
One of them that I looked at said he’s e for Iris
Well tomorrow I’m going to my lowes to check on this. I have yet to see them in store and will buy one on spot tomorrow for a test drive if they have it. For now I’m going trick or treating. LOL
I had to go to my local store today for something else and one seemed know anything about Iris Technology blinds. I found what I think are the blinds, one of several different type Levalors, but no mention of Iris and none of the staff spoke with knew anything … But that’s not a big surprise
Well the ones linked above altho say IRIS in the description, are nothing more then regular binds. The price and the reviews show that.
I’m assuming there is the control kit that attaches a motor and z-wave equipment to these. Of course that’s not in store or online. So I think these are still not ready.
[quote=“integlikewhoa, post:12, topic:183853”]Well the ones linked above altho say IRIS in the description, are nothing more then regular binds. The price and the reviews show that.
I’m assuming there is the control kit that attaches a motor and z-wave equipment to these. Of course that’s not in store or online. So I think these are still not ready.[/quote]
I had a guy from Lowe’s out at my house to measure and give me a quote to replace my existing blinds with Somfy blinds.
While their price book offers all kinds of options including Solar powered blinds now, they could NOT provide what I was requesting. I requested blinds which can lower and raise but also tilt. Somfy can only tilt. If you want lower and raise you have to buy the shades.
The guy from Lowe’s insisted that what I am asking for doesn’t exist but it does. They showcased such blinds this year in April but those are not sold by Lowes. This didn’t matter because even without that Lowe’s called me back and told me that their contractor will not be able to install Solar powered Somfy blinds with the RTS controller in my home.
Just wanted to share my experience with Lowe’s here. I also saw that Home Depot also offers Somfy blinds. Maybe they have a better contractor on hand. 