| Author |
|
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: December 26 2004 at 19:44 | IP Logged
|
|
|
While I was at Lowes today, I found some blind-tilting devices mentioned a couple months ago in some other HA forums out there. They are the Cepia Power Ease. They're not very quiet, and not very small, but, they work well and are cheap. They are sold in Master and Add-On packs ($11.98 and $8.98, respectively). The Master includes an IR remote, the Add-On does not.
Note that these only work with blinds that have a tilt wand (not strings), and, the wand needs to be on the left side. Each pack comes with rubber couplers to connect the motor output to three different types of wand stubs (the part the wand normally connects to).
Installation was easy, and requires no tools. The unit has heavy-duty Velcro attached to the back which mates with an included adhesive strip that you attach to the blind's head rail. Clean the head rail with alcohol, remove the tilt wand from the blinds, select the proper coupler, attach the unit to the wand stub, and press it into place.
To control them, you can use the remote that comes with the Master pack, learn the codes with your learning remote, or, have PH control them with your IR system (i.e. Red Rat, USB-UIRT).
One neat feature is that the IR reciever can be left in the unit, or, can be pulled out and located remotely (up to 1' away) for windows that have drapes or a large valance.
Time for me to add IR to my PH system!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: December 27 2004 at 22:58 | IP Logged
|
|
|
For those interested, here is a pic of two installed on a double window.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: December 28 2004 at 16:44 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tony,
Those are pretty cool. I have a couple of IR controlled battery operated controllers (you can see them here http://www.smarthome.com/3140S.HTML) and they were $50.00!! Im not too impressed with them either. The batteries run down too soon (4 AA) and the motor seems too weak. Im definately heading down to Lowe's to check these out. Your picture is worth a 1000 words.
Definately need to add IR control. You're missing out on at least half of what PowerHome has to offer  . Once you start playing with the IR, you'll love it.
Hope you had a great holiday.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: December 28 2004 at 17:01 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow! $50 each, huh? I can see why you stopped at two! I first picked up three to try, then went back and got five more.
The remote that comes in the Master pack stinks compared to a trained One for All. No problems at all with hitting all three in my living room in one shot. The included remote is more of a sniper rifle to hit one at a time.
I still need to check the current levels during operation so that I can add jacks to power groups of these from a wall-wart. Currently, 20 AA's and counting...
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: December 28 2004 at 20:24 | IP Logged
|
|
|
I forgot to mention that I ordered my USB-UIRT last night! 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: December 28 2004 at 23:45 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Awesome Tony. You'll really like the USB-UIRT.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
jryan15
Newbie
Joined: January 06 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: January 06 2005 at 06:40 | IP Logged
|
|
|
i just bought 7 of the cepia blind openers at Lowes on clearance for $1... Problem is that they did not have any of the master kits. Does anyone know where I can buy a remote control for them. Thanks.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: January 06 2005 at 07:03 | IP Logged
|
|
|
$1?! Not fair!
Maybe you can order one from Cepia? 800-225-9319
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: January 11 2005 at 11:54 | IP Logged
|
|
|
My USB-UIRT just arrived! I can't wait to get home!
Looking around a bit, I can't find setup info for it (a search of the manual found nothing; also not much here in the forum in terms of setup). Am I just missing it, or, is it just too simple for docs?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: January 11 2005 at 13:17 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tony,
It's pretty simple...just be sure to install the drivers for the USB-UIRT (from their website). After that, just select it within PowerHome, reinitialize, and then go to Help->About->Controllers and you should see it listed.
Let me know if you need any help,
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: January 11 2005 at 13:46 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Great, thanks!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: January 13 2005 at 21:19 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wheeeeeee!
Translation: The USB-UIRT is up and running!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: January 14 2005 at 09:21 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Awesome!!!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
demko
Newbie
Joined: January 08 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 15
|
| Posted: February 01 2009 at 23:13 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Since these posts seem a bit old and I couldn't find anything newer, does anyone know if these are still available at Lowes? I couldn't find them on their website. I'm interested in being able to have Power Home automatically open my blinds during the day and close them at night.
Also, Does anyone know if the IR module that comes with windows home media center can be used with PowerHome to transmit or receive IR signals?
Thanks!
Pat
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: February 02 2009 at 07:39 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Those were, unfortunately, only available for a short time.
There are a few companies that make something similar, but the cost is much higher. Somfy and Hunter Douglas come to mind.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
onhiatus
Senior Member
Joined: May 12 2004
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 279
|
| Posted: February 02 2009 at 15:09 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Re: Using Media Center's IR blaster with powerhome (or any other software). This is supposed to be sorta possible for XP, and some people have claimed to get it working in Vista, but I was never able to get it to work on Vista.
Some possible usefull links:
LM Remote KeyMap - http://www.lmgestion.net/@en-us/4/22/60/article.asp
I installed this and it looked like it worked, but could never get it to blast anything and I did not like the way it hijacked the received IR signal.
The greenbutton - http://www.thegreenbutton.com
Check around their forums
Good luck...
Also if you use Vista Media Center and want to be able to control it from Powerhome look at the VMC TCP/IP Controller Here (or to see my additions - music library access and coming soon an http server - look at the beta release page here.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Active Topics 
Memberlist 
Search 
Help
Register 
Login
PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome General
Topic: Automating Window Blinds
