ᐅ Smart Home Roller Shutters / Venetian Blinds with Conventional Electrical Systems

Created on: 11 Oct 2020 13:39
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allstar83
Hello everyone,

we are nearing the completion of the detailed planning phase and the start of construction. I’ve already gone through the whole “I want everything until I want nothing” phase regarding smart home features. By now, I would simply like to be able to operate the roller shutters and blinds via an app.

Here are the requirements:
  • Wired switches
  • Central switch for scenes
  • Control via app / possibly also remotely
  • Wind sensor is not necessary; I would prefer to control that remotely if needed. At work, this is handled with KNX, but it’s rather unsatisfactory (the shutters keep going up and down, etc.)
  • I’m not keen on “old-fashioned” controls like small displays or astro timers
What options are currently under consideration?
So far, it looks like only the Gira System 3000 with a Bluetooth module (remote control would then be difficult) is a candidate, or alternatively adding Shelly or flush-mounted actuators (e.g., Bosch, etc.).

I’ve already read and researched pretty much everything about KNX, Loxone, Hager Easy, Homematic, Somfy radio, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and similar systems. Somehow, I seem to be missing something simple or haven’t yet seen a solution that covers the above requirements.

What else is out there, or what would you recommend? Does anyone know the Gira System 3000?

Thanks very much for your experience and advice!
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filosof
11 May 2022 13:51
Mycraft schrieb:

Well, it’s right there. Temperature sensors inside and outside. Solar intensity measured outside from three directions: east, south, and west, plus the software processing it all, including calculating the sun’s position. Another useful feature is time dependency and occupancy detection.

How to handle this with Bosch products, I’m not sure. In my opinion, Bosch is more for getting a feel for it.


I’m not fixed on Bosch. Honestly, I don’t mind which manufacturer it is. But I do understand that there’s no off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s see what the electrician says – though I expect they’ll try to sell me a complete home automation system right away…
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netuser
11 May 2022 14:23
filosof schrieb:

I’m not fixed on Bosch. Honestly, I don’t really care which manufacturer it is.
But I understand that there is no off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s see what the electrician says – though I expect they’ll probably try to sell me a full home automation system right away...

For me, Bosch has the significant advantage that the system integrates seamlessly with HomeKit (Apple).

If that’s not important to you, you can find comparable devices, even more extensive options, with Homematic IP. Look for flush-mounted shutter control plus light sensor, and you’ll have the solution you’re looking for.
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filosof
11 May 2022 14:29
Ah, that looks good. Thank you very much!!
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Andik81
17 May 2023 20:59
We are currently planning our new build and had a discussion with our window installer about external venetian blinds. Since we are planning 2 sets of 3 blinds each, partly due to large window fronts, and do not want to install countless switches, the installer suggested using Somfy radio-controlled motors as an alternative. This way, we could have only one switch for all the blinds in each group to raise or lower them together, while individual control would be handled via Somfy.

What are your experiences with this? Which Somfy products are necessary for this setup? Are there any alternatives to reduce the number of switches needed for up/down control? Thank you!
Araknis18 May 2023 10:05
Do you not want to automate anything else in your house and focus exclusively on the roller shutters? Somfy is a fairly closed, standalone system. If you want to stick with it because it meets your needs, absolutely avoid motorized units with radio control. Window manufacturers often prefer these. By choosing them, you permanently limit your options for conventional control. I am not a fan of Somfy, but that is mainly due to having a broader perspective on building automation.
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Andik81
18 May 2023 10:08
Araknis schrieb:

Do you not want to automate anything else in your house and only focus on the roller shutters? Somfy is quite a closed, standalone system. If you want to stick with it because it meets your needs, definitely avoid radio motors. Window manufacturers often recommend those. That will permanently limit your options for standard control. I'm not a fan of Somfy, but that’s because I have a broader perspective on building automation.

Otherwise, automation will only be through smart home devices, like Eve Energy outlets. At the moment, nothing else is planned. So what are the alternatives to radio motors? Is it only the classic control using switches?