Hi all
Seeking electronics expertise (when it comes to making I'm better at wood!).
A few years ago we pushed the boat out while completing an "extension extension" and re-roof project by adding electrically operated between-glass blinds with solar-charged blind controllers to the windows. The controllers are starting to fail, mostly battery or charging circuit issues and without them the blinds don't work. I'd be not too bothered, except the manufacturer and their distributors are charging an eye-watering £135 for a replacement unit and the units are kind of flaky in use (need resetting often, which is done by plugging them to a (any) USB charger). The units consist of a USB charging port (for when the solar isn't enough to keep them charged), a 5 point connector and 2 touch sensitive areas with LED back lights, and a simple RF remote control, powered by a small battery (3.7V, 2700mAh). The most complex element is the ability to program (via reset and counting light flashes etc.) the units to respond to 99 different channels on the remote - I can imagine a commercial setup where that might be useful, or if you have the functionality in every room (though 99 is a lot of rooms...) but in practice we use the controller to raise/lower all the blinds at once, so only use one channel
So the questions... how practical would it be to reproduce this functionality, with a similar physical form factor so they can attach to the window mounts (which are wired to the motors inside the window and the tiny solar panels on the outside), in part (no RF or simple RF controls all units) or in whole (99 channels does seem excessive...)? Given the price being charged for replacements, it might be feasible to replace the window mount and solar panel if that makes it more practical (requires popping the window from the frame but that's not a lot of work for someone who knows double glazing).
At a simpler level, how easy is it likely to be to source suitably shaped batteries to replace battery units?
All input welcome and if you need more info to provide better input please don't hesitate to request it.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Chris
I had a similar thing with a whole-house ventilation system. I ended up taking apart the remote control, wiring in an ESP8266 module and now it's wifi controllable so I can stick it in a cupboard, ignore it physically and send it commands using Home Assistant.
Can you get a 5V connection to the USB port? With some stability of power supply, you might find that the flakiness goes away. Might be worth experimenting.
Regards, Mark
On Tue, 1 Oct 2024 at 15:06, Chris Puttick via oshug oshug@oshug.org wrote:
Hi all
Seeking electronics expertise (when it comes to making I'm better at wood!).
A few years ago we pushed the boat out while completing an "extension extension" and re-roof project by adding electrically operated between-glass blinds with solar-charged blind controllers to the windows. The controllers are starting to fail, mostly battery or charging circuit issues and without them the blinds don't work. I'd be not too bothered, except the manufacturer and their distributors are charging an eye-watering £135 for a replacement unit and the units are kind of flaky in use (need resetting often, which is done by plugging them to a (any) USB charger). The units consist of a USB charging port (for when the solar isn't enough to keep them charged), a 5 point connector and 2 touch sensitive areas with LED back lights, and a simple RF remote control, powered by a small battery (3.7V, 2700mAh). The most complex element is the ability to program (via reset and counting light flashes etc.) the units to respond to 99 different channels on the remote - I can imagine a commercial setup where that might be useful, or if you have the functionality in every room (though 99 is a lot of rooms...) but in practice we use the controller to raise/lower all the blinds at once, so only use one channel
So the questions... how practical would it be to reproduce this functionality, with a similar physical form factor so they can attach to the window mounts (which are wired to the motors inside the window and the tiny solar panels on the outside), in part (no RF or simple RF controls all units) or in whole (99 channels does seem excessive...)? Given the price being charged for replacements, it might be feasible to replace the window mount and solar panel if that makes it more practical (requires popping the window from the frame but that's not a lot of work for someone who knows double glazing).
At a simpler level, how easy is it likely to be to source suitably shaped batteries to replace battery units?
All input welcome and if you need more info to provide better input please don't hesitate to request it.
Cheers
Chris
-- @putt1ck
Opinions in this email are my own and may not reflect that of my clients, past employers, associates, friends, family, pets etc.. _______________________________________________ oshug mailing list -- oshug@oshug.org To unsubscribe send an email to oshug-leave@oshug.org
Hi Mark
There's 8 individual rechargeable units mounted 1 per glass unit, so adding an external power feed wouldn't be practical, especially for the glass in the bi-fold doors - and it would have to be a 3.7V feed direct to the board, because the controllers go into a different mode when power is supplied to the USB.
The flakiness aspect doesn't seem related to the power anyway; a controller that's not moving the blind can start working again just by sliding it off the mount and putting it back (cue The IT Crowd), and worst case is slide it off the mount, plug/unplug it to USB (which cycles it through 2 other modes, recharge and programme) and put it back.
NB it's always worth experimenting though, how else do we learn ;)
On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 at 22:58, Mark Hill via oshug oshug@oshug.org wrote:
Hi Chris
I had a similar thing with a whole-house ventilation system. I ended up taking apart the remote control, wiring in an ESP8266 module and now it's wifi controllable so I can stick it in a cupboard, ignore it physically and send it commands using Home Assistant.
Can you get a 5V connection to the USB port? With some stability of power supply, you might find that the flakiness goes away. Might be worth experimenting.
Regards, Mark
On Tue, 1 Oct 2024 at 15:06, Chris Puttick via oshug oshug@oshug.org wrote:
Hi all
Seeking electronics expertise (when it comes to making I'm better at wood!).
A few years ago we pushed the boat out while completing an "extension extension" and re-roof project by adding electrically operated between-glass blinds with solar-charged blind controllers to the windows. The controllers are starting to fail, mostly battery or charging circuit issues and without them the blinds don't work. I'd be not too bothered, except the manufacturer and their distributors are charging an eye-watering £135 for a replacement unit and the units are kind of flaky in use (need resetting often, which is done by plugging them to a (any) USB charger). The units consist of a USB charging port (for when the solar isn't enough to keep them charged), a 5 point connector and 2 touch sensitive areas with LED back lights, and a simple RF remote control, powered by a small battery (3.7V, 2700mAh). The most complex element is the ability to program (via reset and counting light flashes etc.) the units to respond to 99 different channels on the remote - I can imagine a commercial setup where that might be useful, or if you have the functionality in every room (though 99 is a lot of rooms...) but in practice we use the controller to raise/lower all the blinds at once, so only use one channel
So the questions... how practical would it be to reproduce this functionality, with a similar physical form factor so they can attach to the window mounts (which are wired to the motors inside the window and the tiny solar panels on the outside), in part (no RF or simple RF controls all units) or in whole (99 channels does seem excessive...)? Given the price being charged for replacements, it might be feasible to replace the window mount and solar panel if that makes it more practical (requires popping the window from the frame but that's not a lot of work for someone who knows double glazing).
At a simpler level, how easy is it likely to be to source suitably shaped batteries to replace battery units?
All input welcome and if you need more info to provide better input please don't hesitate to request it.
Cheers
Chris
-- @putt1ck
Opinions in this email are my own and may not reflect that of my clients, past employers, associates, friends, family, pets etc.. _______________________________________________ oshug mailing list -- oshug@oshug.org To unsubscribe send an email to oshug-leave@oshug.org
oshug mailing list -- oshug@oshug.org To unsubscribe send an email to oshug-leave@oshug.org
Hi Chris,
Do you have any pictures of the modules and/or brand names and model numbers?
Seeking electronics expertise (when it comes to making I'm better at wood!).
A few years ago we pushed the boat out while completing an "extension extension" and re-roof project by adding electrically operated between-glass blinds with solar-charged blind controllers to the windows. The controllers are starting to fail, mostly battery or charging circuit issues and without them the blinds don't work. I'd be not too bothered, except the manufacturer and their distributors are charging an eye-watering £135 for a replacement unit and the units are kind of flaky in use (need resetting often, which is done by plugging them to a (any) USB charger). The units consist of a USB charging port (for when the solar isn't enough to keep them charged), a 5 point connector and 2 touch sensitive areas with LED back lights, and a simple RF remote control, powered by a small battery (3.7V, 2700mAh). The most complex element is the ability to program (via reset and counting light flashes etc.) the units to respond to 99 different channels on the remote - I can imagine a commercial setup where that might be useful, or if you have the functionality in every room (though 99 is a lot of rooms...) but in practice we use the controller to raise/lower all the blinds at once, so only use one channel
So the questions... how practical would it be to reproduce this functionality, with a similar physical form factor so they can attach to the window mounts (which are wired to the motors inside the window and the tiny solar panels on the outside), in part (no RF or simple RF controls all units) or in whole (99 channels does seem excessive...)? Given the price being charged for replacements, it might be feasible to replace the window mount and solar panel if that makes it more practical (requires popping the window from the frame but that's not a lot of work for someone who knows double glazing).
At a simpler level, how easy is it likely to be to source suitably shaped batteries to replace battery units?
All input welcome and if you need more info to provide better input please don't hesitate to request it.
Cheers
Chris
--
@putt1ck
Opinions in this email are my own and may not reflect that of my clients, past employers, associates, friends, family, pets etc.. _______________________________________________ oshug mailing list -- oshug@oshug.org To unsubscribe send an email to oshug-leave@oshug.org
Hi Andy
The controllers are Pellini W Smart https://www.pellinishop.net/en/w-system-battery/188-w-smart-battery-module.h... - you can see from the other items that the pricing is gouge level, because they price the "Battery charger" at 24EUR - it's just a USB supply, anything USB compatible works.
On Wed, 2 Oct 2024 at 23:10, Andy Bennett andyjpb@ashurst.eu.org wrote:
Hi Chris,
Do you have any pictures of the modules and/or brand names and model numbers?
Seeking electronics expertise (when it comes to making I'm better at wood!).
A few years ago we pushed the boat out while completing an "extension extension" and re-roof project by adding electrically operated between-glass blinds with solar-charged blind controllers to the windows. The controllers are starting to fail, mostly battery or charging circuit issues and without them the blinds don't work. I'd be not too bothered, except the manufacturer and their distributors are charging an eye-watering £135 for a replacement unit and the units are kind of flaky in use (need resetting often, which is done by plugging them to a (any) USB charger). The units consist of a USB charging port (for when the solar isn't enough to keep them charged), a 5 point connector and 2 touch sensitive areas with LED back lights, and a simple RF remote control, powered by a small battery (3.7V, 2700mAh). The most complex element is the ability to program (via reset and counting light flashes etc.) the units to respond to 99 different channels on the remote - I can imagine a commercial setup where that might be useful, or if you have the functionality in every room (though 99 is a lot of rooms...) but in practice we use the controller to raise/lower all the blinds at once, so only use one channel
So the questions... how practical would it be to reproduce this functionality, with a similar physical form factor so they can attach to the window mounts (which are wired to the motors inside the window and the tiny solar panels on the outside), in part (no RF or simple RF controls all units) or in whole (99 channels does seem excessive...)? Given the price being charged for replacements, it might be feasible to replace the window mount and solar panel if that makes it more practical (requires popping the window from the frame but that's not a lot of work for someone who knows double glazing).
At a simpler level, how easy is it likely to be to source suitably shaped batteries to replace battery units?
All input welcome and if you need more info to provide better input please don't hesitate to request it.
Cheers
Chris
--
@putt1ck
Opinions in this email are my own and may not reflect that of my clients, past employers, associates, friends, family, pets etc.. _______________________________________________ oshug mailing list -- oshug@oshug.org To unsubscribe send an email to oshug-leave@oshug.org
-- andyjpb@ashurst.eu.org http://www.ashurst.eu.org/ http://www.gonumber.com/andyjpb 0x7EBA75FF
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Andy Bennett -
Chris Puttick -
Mark Hill