Wireless Wall Mount Switches

Please Note: This article series was written in 2012 and is here for legacy purposes only; our current focus is on the very affordable BroadLink^® hub that can learn RF and IR codes, giving direct control over each blind motor, skylight/window opener, and other devices. It does not require any external interfaces.

Our 1 and 2 channel wireless wall mount switches can be programmed to control groups of blind motors in a single room (or different rooms and hallways) throughout the house.

These remotes transmit the same signal as our hand held remotes, timers, sensors, and USB transceivers (with Vera), and can be used in conjunction with them. You can also have switches in multiple locations controlling the same motors.

Step 1: Remove the Cover

Figure 1:
Remove Cover

The first step for configuring these switches is to remove the cover, exposing the battery compartment and several concealed setting switches. There are two slots on either side of the switch housing that accept a flat screwdriver blade, as in the picture on the left.

When you rotate the screwdriver blade in each slot, it will pop the clamps inside the unit, releasing the top cover. You can then lift off the cover, exposing the battery compartment and the setting switches. Please note that the 'confirm' and 'limit' switches behave in a similar fashion as the switches of the same name on our regular hand held remote controls.

Step 2: Insert the Battery

The battery compartment is at the bottom and the button battery (provided) slides into the unit, with the + positive side up. You can test the battery by pressing any switch - the LED indicator should flash.

Wall mount switches and other remote controls for blind motors can be purchased in our online store, click here to view in a new window

Step 3: Prepare the RollerTrol™ Motor:

Figure 2: Set Program

Each RollerTrol™ motor has a a small hole on the outside edge of the cap at the wired end of the tubular motor. At the bottom of the hole is a small switch for activating the 'programming' mode of the motor. On some motors (eg. battery motors), the setting switch is at the top of the hole under a rubber membrane.

You can feel a pronounced click or 'give' when this switch is activated, when inserting a small screwdriver or similar item into the hole. You do not need to apply much pressure for this to be activated.

Connect the motor to your power supply, then follow the instructions below to complete the programming.

A standard DC motor normally reverses direction when the polarity is reversed, but these units have special circuity that requires you observe the correct polarity.

Connect the wire with the blue stripe to the positive (+) power supply terminal.

Figure 3: Wiring

If you are operating more than 1 motor from the same power supply, wire the motors in parallel: connect both positive leads together and both negative leads together.

Please note that you can control the direction of the motor by programming (see step 5 below), but it will not function if you connect the wires in reverse (they are reverse polarity protected, so you cannot damage the electronics if you accidently connect it in reverse).

Step 4: Clearing the Motor Memory:

Please Note: You should only do this if you have not previously assigned the motor to any other remote.

• Insert screwdriver into the setting hole and hold the setting switch down. After 3 seconds, you will hear a beeping sound.
• This will be the 'long beep' sound referred to in further instructions (beep ... beep ... beep).
• Continue to hold the switch down for a few more seconds, until you hear a series of short beeps.
• This will be the 'short beep' sound referred to in further instructions (beep.beep.beep).
• After you hear the short beeps, the memory clearing procedure is complete and you can release the switch. However, It is a good idea to continue to hold the setting switch down until you have heard two complete cycles of beeps (or the beeping stops), then you know for sure the unit has cleared its memory.

The operation is done at this point - the memory has been cleared. You can reset the memory as many times as you like.

Step 5: Linking the Motor to the Switch (Channel Assignment):

Figure 4: Set Channel Assignment

• Insert the screwdriver into the motor 'programming' hole and hold the switch down for about 3 seconds. When you hear the long beeps (beep ... beep ... beep), release the screwdriver. The motor is now in programming mode and is waiting for its channel assignment. Battery & low standby motors will jog slightly, instead of making a beep sound.
• If you are using the 2 channel switch, press any button of the channel you wish to assign the motor to (up/down/stop). If you are using the 1 channel switch, this step is not necessary.
• To complete the channel assignment, press the confirm button inside the switch (see picture at left). You will hear a series of short beeps or feel the motor jog slightly to indicate that it has accepted the channel assignment; release the confirm button when this happens. Please Note: you only have a limited amount of time to do this, otherwise the motor will exit the setup mode automatically, and you will need to hold down the motor setting mode button again to re-enter the setup mode.

At this point, the operation is complete - the motor is linked to the switch. You should be able to activate the motor by pressing the Up/Down/Stop buttons on the switch (provided that the switch is not in AUTO timed mode). If the motor fails to rotate, it probably means you have reached the travel limit in one direction, so try reversing it.

Step 6: Testing the Motor Direction:

You should be able to run the motor at this point as described above - try the up/down/stop buttons. If the motor runs in the opposite direction to the one desired, you can reverse the motor direction:

• hold down the 'limit' switch, then hold down the stop button also (holding down both at the same time).
• after a few seconds, you will hear the short beeps (beep.beep.beep) and the transmit symbol on the switch will be activated
• release both buttons and test the motor again with the Up/Down buttons (it should now run in the opposite direction).

Please Note: If you accidentally hold down the Confirm button, instead of the Limit button: This puts it into the travel limit setting mode, and you have to complete the operation before you can go back to the reversal programming. You can tell if you're in that mode because the motor will 'jog' in small steps in one direction or the other, so that you can accurately set the travel limits. You have to complete both up and down travel limit settings before you can get out of that mode (see step 4).

You can also link more than one motor (as many as you like) to the switch simply by following the same procedure above. Note that when you get to the point of setting the travel limits, it is a good idea to make sure only the motor you wish to program is powered up, otherwise you will be setting the travel limits simultaneously for all motors. This can be problematic because it is unlikely they are all starting from the same point.

Step 7: Setting the Upper and Lower Travel Limits:

The travel limits of a RollerTrol™ motor can be set and changed at any time with the wall mount switch; you do not have to touch the motor at all. The sequence is as follows:

Setting the Upper Limit:

• Press and hold down the 'Limit' button (figure 4) for 3 seconds, until you hear the 3 'long beeps'. This action places the motor into its limit programming mode.
• Press the UP button on the remote; the motor will move in the up direction at normal speed.
• When it gets close to the upper limit, press the STOP button. The motor now enters the 'Jog' mode.
• Press the UP or DOWN buttons to move the motor slightly in one direction or the other. You'll see the motor move in very short steps that are a small fraction of a full rotation. Use this mode to position your motor at the exact upper limit you desire.
• Press the 'Confirm' button. After you hear the 3 'short beeps', the upper limit has been set. The motor is still in 'programming mode' so that you can set the lower limit.

Setting the Lower Limit:

• Press the DOWN button on the remote; the motor will move in the down direction at normal speed.
• When it gets close to the lower limit, press the STOP button. The motor now enters the 'Jog' mode.
• Press the UP or DOWN buttons to move the motor slightly in one direction or the other. You'll see the motor move in very short steps that are a small fraction of a full rotation. Use this mode to position your motor at the exact lower limit you desire.
• Press the 'Confirm' button. After you hear the 3 'short beeps', the upper limit has been set. The motor is now back in normal running mode and you should be able to test the full excursion.

Step 8: Repeat the Above Steps for Each Motor:

The process is the same for all motors in the group, but it is a good idea to make sure only the motor you wish to program is powered up, otherwise you will be setting the travel limits simultaneously for all motors. This can be problematic because it is unlikely they are all starting from the same point.

Wall mount switches and other remote controls for blind motors can be purchased in our online store, click here to view in a new window

We sincerely hope you enjoy using these advanced motors; if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time!