ᐅ Sun and Wind Sensors for Exterior Venetian Blinds and Roller Shutter Control

Created on: 17 Apr 2020 09:56
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Brainstorming
Hello everyone,

I am currently planning our new build, which recently started, and I am now focusing on the windows. Our garden faces south. Therefore, I would like to equip the ground floor windows overlooking the garden with two external venetian blinds (raffstores). We are using conventional electrical installation (no KNX or similar), but I would like to control at least the roller shutters throughout the house and the two venetian blinds via smartphone and be able to program them with certain rules. So far, I have been considering wireless solutions like Somfy or Fibraro.

Now I have a question regarding sun and wind sensors that are supposed to control the venetian blinds automatically. How would these be wired to flush-mounted relays from Somfy/Fibaro or similar? Or would a central control unit for the venetian blinds with a relay mounted on a DIN rail in the main distribution board be more practical? Ideally, I would also like the roller shutters to be controlled by the sun sensor.

Thank you in advance for your answers.
Mycraft17 Apr 2020 14:33
1000 euros is not a small amount. I would always go with Z-Wave if a wired solution is not possible or desired, as it offers similar functions and interoperability to professional systems. The only question is whether a USB stick with a Raspberry Pi is sufficient or if a dedicated central controller is needed.
Brainstorming schrieb:

that you might only use the function to lower all roller shutters/blinds before going to bed.
This can basically be done without any "system" at all, simply with the switches of your preferred switch/motor manufacturer that have an astro function and can manage multiple switch times simultaneously.

You don’t need a smartphone or anything central for this, and it was possible even back when Helmut Kohl was Chancellor without major problems. But just as a side note.
Brainstorming schrieb:

that you can also control such things with a Raspberry Pi.
A Raspberry Pi, a NUC, or something else essentially only provides a software platform. You still need the infrastructure (hardware) that is being controlled and that provides the sensor data.

Of course, you can build a lot with it, but that tends to drift more into the DIY area, while nowadays you can just as easily use ready-made tools and devices.

That said, I do have a Pi in the utility room as a secondary system, which also provides access to the house (via SmarthomeNG) and through which everything can be controlled. So if you enjoy it, you can already do quite a bit with it.
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Alessandro
21 Apr 2020 10:28
Somfy motors always come with a push button included.
If you do not want to control the all up/down function via your smartphone, simply purchase an additional push button and program it to all motors.
The advantage of Somfy is the continuous expandability of the system and, of course, the support.