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[hawk1]

I know there has been talk on the forum about automating drapes and blinds, but can't find any plans.  Does anyone actually have any plans for automating horizontal blinds with like say a car window motor? actually any plans would do. i am just trying to automate my blinds and drapes very inexpensively  as i live on a fixed income.  i would like to control them with x10 but is not necessary. i really don't understand the electronic lingo but I can follow plans. thank you.

[Brian H]

I think [memory here] that one of the project on this site maybe a blinds one.
http://www.cocoontech.com/

[steinie44]

I remember something from on a home automation site.
It suggested using a motorized car radio antenna connected to the curtain cord.
It is strong enough to pull and push the cord up and down.

Or you can use a 1/4 inch threaded rod, this diameter will fit very nicely into the chuck of an electric drill,
or screwdriver. This assembly would be very powerful, and the gearbox would limit the speed
to an acceptable rate for drapes or blinds.

[Brian H]

I think the one I saw used the insides of a cordless drill and a Universal Module.

[hawk1]

thanks for all the replies you guys are great! , but are there any plans for these. i'm going to check out coccoon tonight

[litespeed3]

  I found a company that sells units for automating blinds. I will be ordering one this week.  I will post again with the results.
Here is the link, I hope it helps: http://www.add-a-motor.com/

[Elfmaze]

How do these add a motors work out?  Longterm problems?  Do they make noise?   I need something to open and close blackout drapes at night so i can sleep and open them at alarm clock time. 

My window is 48" wide and 36" tall.

[JMac]

I have a drapery controlled by an "Add-a-Motor" window motor.  It powers the continuous loop cord and moves the drape on a traverse rod.  You power it with an appliance module.  It has been operating twice a day for about 9 months with no problems.  It does make some noise, but the whole operation is over in seconds.  One consideration about noise is that the appliance switch has to be turned "Off" after the operation (Open/Close), as the motor runs when power is applied and then stops when drape limit reached.  So you have a "click", then drape motor operation, and then another "click".