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Messages - admin

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31
Hi @lacoleman, thanks for your feedback, that is good to know. I think you may be using our older series R motors; our newer G series have a finer jog function.

Regards, Adrian

32
Hi Spudz, you should certainly flash your firmware to the latest version. Also, the tech support at RFXCOM is really good and they know a lot more about it than me, so it might be a good idea to email them first, in case there is something that would help.

Regards, Adrian

33
Hi Spudz, definitely the RFXCOM has a higher output, it can reach anywhere in a typical home when centrally located, as can the BroadLink hub.

Regards, Adrian

34
Hi Spudz, I don't know the answer to that, but you could check the Vera forum. I know that there is a bridge that someone has written for it that apparently works with SmartThings:

http://milillicuti.com/an-api-to-connect-your-broadlink-rm-pro-irrf-wifi-bridge-to-your-home-automation-system/

We have several Vera units here, but we found that the Broadlink unit has made them relatively obselete, but we didn't already have a big investment in z-wave, so it may be different for you.

Regards, Adrian

35
Hi Spudz, thanks for your message, I think your questions are very valid as we have all experienced some confusion around these issues. Up until now it has really been quite complicated to get things working the way you want, if you want to go further than our simple remote controls.

I say "up until now" because our new controller hub from BroadLink goes a very long way to making things easy, and quite affordable too.

The older R series motors use a different radio protocol because we have introduced the ability to "clone" remotes with the new G series. This means the new remotes don't work with the old series, and the old remotes don't work with the new series.

This can be problematic, especially if both types will be in the same room, when you have the older series and want to add some of the newer G series motors.

But the BroadLink hub solves this problem because it can "learn" the remote control signals from either type.

Thus you can turn any phone or tablet (even older phones without sim cards) into a very sophisticated remote control, and our wall or hand held remotes still work too (with their respective motor types).

I hope that clarifies things for you, but feel free to send me an email message if you need more info; here's that link that explains more, as well as the IFTTT capability (if-this-then-that):

http://rollertrol.com/blind-motor-phone-app-introduction

Regards, Adrian

36
Voltage, polarity, wire size, etc. / Re: New design help requested
« on: September 04, 2016, 10:47:20 AM »
Hello @eas, thanks for your interest. I have posted your answers below ...

Please feel free to contact me directly at any time, through the contact form on our website.

Regards, Andy

Andy Mityok
Account Manager
RollerTrol Automation Systems
--------------

Hi,
I have a clerestory with 14 windows that are about 48" wide x 18" tall. The middle two on the front and back are awning type operable and I'd like to make these motorized and connect them and the ceiling fan to the upstairs thermostat (Ecobee or WiserAir) and also have the ability to open them via a remote control. They need not be operated separately. One signal would open & close all four.

I have a few questions about parts and wiring to accomplish this.
Does the kit come with a 120VAC - 12VDC transformer?

- Yes.

I assume the window kit is an actuator plus a motor controller. Is that right and would I then need one kit, three more add-on acuators and one remote?

- Yes that is correct, and we will up-size the power supply for you to 8 amps

Do I simply wire all four actuators in parallel to the one motor controller?

- Yes, that is correct, the controller (receiver) that comes with the kit can handle all 4 actuators.

Here are the general instructions for the remote control setup for the window opener:

http://rollertrol.com/instructions-radio-receiver-15-amp-motor-control-G-series-actuator.php


Is it possible to connect the motor controller to my thermostat's A/C circuit? (The house has no A/C, only FAU heat).

- You can't really do that directly, without designing some custom circuitry, but you could use that thermostat relay signal as a trigger input to a home automation unit such as Vera or Smart Things. We have a group transmitter module that can be operated with 3 relays re open/close/stop. You would need to have a relay module of some kind to act as a trigger for the group transmitter. We also have a Z-Wave trigger module that can be used to do this, if you use a hub that supports z-wave. Here's an article we wrote about how to do it:

http://rollertrol.com/z-wave-blind-motor-control-part1g

The above discusses the system used with our roller shade motors, but the principle is the same (reversing DC motors).


If I also want to trigger the windows to open when the kitchen stove vent is turned on (it has a trigger output), are there any other parts needed?

As above, you could use your automation hub to do this, but it is not a trivial undertaking ...

37
Hello Cory, I was able to get some further information that seems to agree with what you found regarding Z-Wave control of blind motors with our Z-Wave trigger module for controlling blind and shade motors.

As you know, we use that Z-Wave module to trigger our group transmitter, so the one second default 'on time' duration of each of the 3 relays works really well for controlling radio motors.

This was of interest because although Vera has no problem with the 3 OPEN/STOP/CLOSE commands, we found that SmartThings can only do OPEN/CLOSE, using their 'valve' widget.

The info I got suggested this, but your info sounds more complete:

OPEN: 0xFF
CLOSED: 0x00
STOP: 0x04

This apparently is directly related to the Z-Wave Multilevel Switch command, and I could see where others were having similar difficulties with the STOP command in some other Z-Wave related forum discussions, like this one:

https://forum.z-wave.me/viewtopic.php?t=23674&p=63409

Regards, Adrian

38
Hello Cory, thanks for the tip; I will check with the production manufacturer in Taiwan about this; it may take a few days.

Regards, Adrian

39
Hi @tecbuilt, it would be a very complex process, even for a software engineer, although it is theoretically possible. It's not something we could tackle, sorry.

Regards, Adrian

40
Good Morning @tecbuilt, thanks for your interest.

Our protocol won't work with MCD, you would need to change the motor too.

If you want to mess with analyzing protocols, please take a look at Stefan's method via our Raspberry Pi article about his OpenNetHome System, there's a link to it on his website:

http://RollerTrol.com/raspberry-pi-shade-blind-motor-control-part1

Regards, Adrian

41
Hi @jayekub, thanks  for your message.

You hit the nail on the head, you should not try to activate the controller directly with a GPIO port, it will require an intermediate transistor.

The controller works by pulling the appropriate pin to ground, you can test this simply by attaching a piece of wire to the controller header and touching the ground pin.

If you are operating it in 'momentary' mode, if you short the OPEN pin to ground, it will cause the motor to operate in one direction until you release the ground contact (unless it has already reached your pre-programmed travel limit).

Your unit has already been shipped, and I will be sending you further instructions shortly.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me any time.

Regards, Adrian

Adrian Biffen
Customer Service
RollerTrol Automation Systems
http://RollerTrol.com

42
Tubular Motors: General Discussion / Re: Installing as a tv cover
« on: April 30, 2016, 11:57:50 AM »
Hi jimmy, BuyAPi.ca is a good place, they have Pi 3 now.

If you use our Mini, the width of the diameter of the tube + fabric + hem bar will be perhaps not more than 1.5", which would be close to the depth of the recess. You'll want to set it up to roll off the top towards the room.

You can adjust the programmable travel limits to stop wherever you like, so an exposed portion is no problem. You can use the wired Mini or the unit with the built-in battery:

http://rollertrol.com/store/en/88-diy-blind-shade-motor-kits

Regards, Adrian

43
Tubular Motors: General Discussion / Re: Installing as a tv cover
« on: April 30, 2016, 05:55:26 AM »
Good Morning Jimmy, that was indeed a very nice project that fellow created. He's actually using a simple roller shade, just the same as you might use on a window, using a blackout decorator fabric of some kind.

It looks to me like he has recessed the roller into the wall a few inches, so that just the leading edge that rolls off the top of the roller tube is actually exposed. I think he has also installed some side guides using L channel or U channel (readily available at your local hardware store).

This isn't a difficult thing to do, if you have some general fabrication skills and a small workshop with adequate tools. I think if you got one of our basic starter kits you will see how a standard roller shade mechanism works, and you could use any kind of fabric you like (even with your own custom graphics added to the material).

There is a series of general 'how to' articles I have written that should help guide the way (see the 'How To' main menu area on our website), but we don't have anything specific to that project. Most of my time these days is tied up working on the new Raspberry Pi 3 configured as an automation controller:

http://rollertrol.com/raspberry-pi-shade-blind-motor-control-part1

Regards, Adrian



44
Tubular Motors: General Discussion / Re: Installing as a tv cover
« on: April 29, 2016, 09:42:05 PM »
Hello Jimmy, thanks for your forum posting.

We have many clients worldwide that use our motors in all kinds of interesting ways, not always just for roller shades.

If you can post the link you are referring to, I would be happy to take a look and let you know how I think it may have been done.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me any time.

Regards, Adrian

Adrian Biffen
Customer Service
RollerTrol Automation Systems
http://RollerTrol.com

45
Choosing a home automation system / Re: JEELINK
« on: March 31, 2016, 02:04:43 PM »
Hello @lilpint, thanks for your question. We had a few kits at Christmas time, but they were a special item and we don't have any now. You can purchase the Jeelink transceiver at Modern Electronics, and the Pi is readily available (the new Pi3 works fine too, we have one).

There is no 'network address', the Jeelink transceiver just plugs into a USB port on the Pi, and it is then set up with the usual create/edit procedure.

Once you have set it up, you have to configure to add the RollerTrol protocols; please see the updated instructions here:

http://rollertrol.com/raspberry-pi-shade-blind-motor-control-part4

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me any time.

Regards, Adrian

Adrian Biffen
Customer Service
RollerTrol Automation Systems
http://RollerTrol.com




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