Add-A-Motor’s Model 80 Blind and Drapery controller isn’t by any means the pinnacle of home automation excellence, but it gets the job done at a very affordable price. Installation is a snap, retrofitting your existing blinds and shades to work as an easy to operate motorized system.
There’s really not too much more to it! An AC Adapter with a 9ft cord comes with it, and you can easily add your own control mechanism… any simple plug in timer, a Butler RF remote, or the X10 home control system.
We found this system to be a little bit noisy, but the ease of install makes it a no-brainer. There’s not electrical work needed, the mechanism is flush-mounted to the wall next to your window. It should also be noted the unit holds the control cord taut, making it certified for child safety standards.
We were able to easily install this system with both a drapery track and vertical blinds. With drapery you can open and close a curtain up to 15 feet wide with a center open of up to 30 feet. On vertical blinds you can rotate the blinds to any angle you desire, and it can traverse blinds up to 15 feet wide with a center open of up to 30 feet. With two motors you could both traverse and rotate.
We’d imagine a system like this would be best utilized for opening and closing blinds for the beginner home automation enthusiast, and would be best suited for running window coverings on a timer for the disabled or elderly.