I am desperately looking for a solution for the 16 Velux windows i have. I want to be able to control the blinds from vera with out having to re-wire the whole roof.
From what I can tell Velux use IO-Homecontrol protocol for their remotes.
Somfy are also talking IO-Homecontrol.
Somfy (in North America) sell the URTSI II which can talk to RTS motors via IO-HomeControl.
Vera has a plugin for the URTSI I and II.
With that said, does anybody control their Velux blinds via a URTSI II? Does it work?
I live in the UK and i know with Z-Wave the frequencies of NA and Europe devices are different so before i Import a URTSI II, i would like to know that
a) IS it possible to control Velux blinds with the URTSI II
b) Does anyone know the frequency of IO-Homecontrol in NA and Europe (are they the same)
c) Does anyone know the where Velux publish the frequency of their blinds that talk IO-Homecontrol
I’m trying to do something similar with VELUX FMK Electric Light Dimming Blinds which also uses IO-HomeControl with a Velux KUX 100 controller. The motor in these blinds is 24 volts. I had read that they should work with the Hunter-Douglas DBMZ Z-Wave blind controller so I ordered a couple. Unfortunately, I have had no luck so far with them, although the blind does work with the Velux remote control. From what I have read, you should be able to put the blinds into a “polarity reversal” mode so that simply applying 24 volts to the motor causes it to move, but this does not work. There seems to be some protocol between the blind and the KUX 100 that is required before the blinds will move. I had considered the RFXCom RFXtrx433 USB transeiver but it does not support IO-Homecontrol.
There are a few posts on various forums about this issue, but a lot seems to depend on exactly what type of blind you have. I emailed Velux and Hunter-Douglas, but neither were able to help.
The only other idea I have had is to connect the wiring from the DBMZ directly to the blind motor but this would obviously void the warranty.
All I could find on IO-Homecontrol is that it uses one of three frequencies between 868MHz and 870MHz depending on availability.
My understanding is IO Home control is a bidirectional radio communication, where RTS is only one way transmission. Along with being different frequencies I’d say they aren’t compatible.
Unless they make a serial to IO interface, your best bet is probably using one of the remotes as an interface with an RS232 relay board connected via wires soldered to the button pads on the remote circuit board. The plugin for the board uses window covering controls as a bonus.
During summer days when temperatures are high and the sun is extra bright, the blinds can be closed to reduce potential solar heat gain, and during winter nights when temperatures are low, the blinds can be closed to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation and keep warm air indoors.
[quote=“shady, post:3, topic:177394”]My understanding is IO Home control is a bidirectional radio communication, where RTS is only one way transmission. Along with being different frequencies I’d say they aren’t compatible.
Unless they make a serial to IO interface, your best bet is probably using one of the remotes as an interface with an RS232 relay board connected via wires soldered to the button pads on the remote circuit board. The plugin for the board uses window covering controls as a bonus.[/quote]
Thanks Shady. My concern with that is i am shite with a soldering iron, can’t find a remote that has the required amount of buttons (i have 10 velux windows in 5 different rooms) and the range of a single remote as i have a long building.
I have some roof windows here which use Velux (io-homecontrol) as well. I ll z-wave-fy them with a Velux KLF050 interface connected to a Fibaro double relay (FGS221). KLF050 offers dry contacts for open/close. Connecting them to Fibaro Relay is easy. KLF050 is expecting a monetary switches on both inputs. FGS221 can de configured to switch off after 200ms again after switched ON. That’s my setup in theory.
KLF050 is a Velux io-homecontrol flush-mountable remote for Velux Windows with S1 S2 and Com for dry contact OPEN/CLOSE/STOPP (both pressed). It can control one motor or one whole group. You could add a real switch to the Fibaro if you need a local one, but as the installation is unreachable in my roof I won’t need a switch.
One mayor advantage: YOu can continue to use your existing remotes. For normal operation. Non waranty issues, no manipultaion of the blinds.
Disadvantage: Not possible to determine position.
It could be possible to set a level (10% 30% … ) by settin up scenes which send STOPP after x seconds. But not easy to determine where blinds are.
For simple /OPEN/CLOSE automation, easily possible. I ll post my progress in a different thread once I have all my parts and beginn with the mess…
