Controlling window treatments can be a great way to increase privacy, make the most of natural light, and help the HVAC system run more efficiently.
Some window treatments are controlled through integration with another system, like those from Lutron. These shades/blinds are controlled by the M1 through a lighting command. Other wired window treatments (such as motorized blinds and drapes) can be controlled through a relay.
2-Wire Window Treatments
Some of these window treatments have two wires, which requires 2 relay contacts to “reverse” the polarity. The ELK-924 used in conjunction with a voltage output from the M1 can be used for these types of window treatments.
3-Wire Window Treatments
Other window treatments may have 3 wires (1 negative and 2 positive), which requires one relay contact to switch the voltage to the appropriate positive lead. This can be done using a single relay from M1 System using the ELK-M1XOVR Output Expander and/or ELK-M1RB Relay Board.
Using rules, window treatments can be controlled by through lighting or output commands, allowing them to open/close based on time of day, system arm status, task activation, etc.
Time of Day:
Blinds or drapes in particular rooms should be opened at a certain time to let natural light into the room. The window treatments should only be opened if the system is disarmed or armed to stay mode. In this example, the living room blinds will be opened in the morning at 8:00 am if the system is disarmed.
WHENEVER TIME OF DAY IS 8:00AM
AND Area 1(Area 1) ARM STATE = DISARMED
THEN TURN LR Blinds (Output 9) ON
To open the blinds at 8:00 am if the system is armed in stay mode, simply change the AND statement in the rule as shown below.
WHENEVER TIME OF DAY IS 8:00AM
AND Area 1(Area 1) IS ARMED STAY
THEN TURN LR Blinds (Output 9) ON
System Arm Status:
The blinds or drapes should all be closed when the system is armed to away mode, to prevent anyone from seeing in the home. In this example, a group of window treatments will be closed when the system is armed in away mode.
WHENEVER Area 1(Area 1) IS ARMED AWAY
THEN TURN LR Blinds [9(A9)] OFF, FADE RATE = 0
THEN TURN MBR Blinds [10(A10)] OFF, FADE RATE = 0
THEN TURN Ktchn Blinds [11(A11)] OFF, FADE RATE = 0
A similar rule may be used to close the window treatments when the system is armed to night mode.
Task Activation:
The window treatments may need to be opened or closed based on a task. For example, when watching a movie, a task may be activated that dims the lights and closes the drapes. The rule below defines that task.
WHENEVER Watch Movie (Task 5) IS ACTIVATED
THEN SET LR Lights [1(A1)] TO 10% BRIGHT
THEN TURN LR Blinds [9(A9)] OFF, FADE RATE = 0
This task may be activated from the keypad Tasks menu or from an F key. The rule below activates the task when the F6 key is pressed on the keypad in the living room.
WHENEVER F6 ON KEYPAD 2 ACTIVATES
THEN ACTIVATE Watch Movie (Task 5)