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Hunter Douglas PowerView Blinds, Shades & Home Automation

Home Automation from Hunter Douglas

Fabric Bin is your one stop shop for home automation. We can do a basic system with hard wired switches on the wall or a remote control to our create the ideal whole house solution that works for you.

Hunter Douglas shades can be programmed to operate room by room so you can operate one or all of the shades with one the touch of a button. Adding a Hunter Douglas Hub to your home automation system allows you to control your shades from your tablet or smartphone or with voice commands using a voice assistant such as Alexa. You can create specific scheduled times to raise and lower your shades. Most shades can work in home and commercial applications. Shades are available with battery packs if hardwiring is not an option. Motorized shades are ideal for high windows, second story or higher. Batteries last 8-12 months with regular usage.

If you are considering motorized window coverings in your home or other space, please read carefully about what is needed to prepare for this. ESPECIALLY if you are in the beginning stage of your build or remodeling projects. Call us before to insure pre-wiring is set with your builder or contractor other PowerView can be installed using indivdual battery packs.

Product Videos

Pre-wiring for automated window shades and blinds

Whether we like it or not, home automation is here and is only growing. More often than not new home owners expect their homes to be modern and laced with the latest technologies. This now includes remote controlled window coverings. Low voltage window coverings are what they want and the requirements for these advanced new window covering control systems are completely different than what they used to be with line voltage (110) systems.

Common Questions about PowerView Blinds, Shades & Automation

Why Low Voltage? Why Now?

There are basically two power forms available for motorized window coverings, line voltage (110 volt) and low voltage. For years it was simple. Line voltage is sent to a motor at one polarity to turn the motor one way and then reverse the polarity to turn the motor the other way. This still works and is used widely. There are many different ways to control the polarity to the motor from simple toggle switches with four wire set-ups to radio frequency switches. Line voltage motors get the job done especially when large/heavy shades and drapes need to be moved. There are many negative sides to line voltage:

Requires a licensed electrician to run the wire
The switching is set at install and cannot be changed without extensive re-wiring
Grouping is set at install and cannot be changed without extensive re-wiring and expensive line voltage group controllers installed, etc.

In the last 5 years or so, in response to the many headaches of line voltage shade systems, low voltage technology has improved ten-fold. The major drawback to low voltage shade systems was their inability to move large or heavy window coverings. That day is over. There, of course, are limits to how much a low voltage system can manage however, the limitations are now the exception. The advantages of a low voltage system far outweigh any negatives:

Does not require licensed line voltage electricians for wiring
They are quiet and some brands almost silent
Switching can be changed at anytime during or after install
Grouping can be changed at any time during or after install
Groups can be one or infinity number of shades and can be changed at any time
Can be easily integrated into home automation systems at any time
Can be controlled with wall switches, Infra-Red (IR), Radio-Frequency (RF), Contact Closure, or RS232

How to pre-wire properly for low voltage window coverings (and why you shouldn’t rely on your low voltage integrator to get it right) – The most significant difference, and the one creating most of the problems we see today, is that wiring for low voltage window covering systems is completely different than for line voltage shades and there is no standardized system (yet) between manufacturers. Like home automation systems, there are many brands and they are all different and all have different requirements. This is where we come in and can help you. We have spent years learning all of the emerging systems and know which one will work best for which application and how best to install the system from beginning to end so that the end user receives the exact performance they were expecting.

What can and cannot be motorized?

Actually, there isn’t much that can’t be motorized. Let’s look at the most popular products and their options.

- Designer Roller Screens
- Blackout/Opaque Duettes®
- Silhouettes®
- Vignettes®
- Roman Shades
- Duettes® Honeycomb Shades
- Custom Roman Shades
- Drapery & Luminettes®
- Blinds Tilt Only
- Blinds Tilt and Lift

Where to use Line Voltage(110 V)

Outdoor Shades
Awnings
Large Indoor Roller Screens and shades

How can Fabric Bin Blinds help?

Trying not to be too brash about it, call us first! Too many times now we have received a call from a new home owners, remodeler, or builder asking us to come out and help them order hardwired PowerView shades now that they are almost done with the project. Nine times out of ten we have to be the bearers of bad news and explain that what they want is not possible with what they have already done. We can make it work however; their will have to be major compromises or major remodeling done (walls cut open, new wiring pulled, etc.) in order to deliver what they are looking for. If they had only consulted us in the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened. PowerView shades can be ordered with individual battery packs that will be visible from the exterior of the home through the window glass.

Connect with other smart-home systems

The PowerView system is designed for compatibility with most home automation system technologies on the market today, as well as Apple iOS and Android tablets and mobile devices to expand the function of your wireless home.

Please be sure to visit PowerView Compatibility page at hunterdouglas.com for the latest information on compatible systems and devices.

Pebble and Surface Remote

The stylish and colorful handheld Pebble Remote or the wall-mounted Surface Remote puts direct adjustment at your finger tips. Operate individual or groups of shades with the push of a button.

PowerView App

Customize your collection of Rooms and Scenes with the App, then use the scheduling feature to operate them whether your’e home or away. It’s designed for compatibility with Apple iOS and Android tablets and mobile devices.

Pebble and Surface Scene Controller

When your tablet or smartphone isn’t handy, the Scene Controller works seamlessly with PowerView Hob and App to trigger the Scenes you’ve created, adding even more convenient control.

PowerView Hub

Our elegantly designed Hub connects wirelessly on your home WiFi network. It’s the central point of control for all your home’s PowerView window treatments, storing your settings and activating your Scenes.

PowerView Repeater

The Repeater is a small signal enhancer that discreetly plugs into almost any outlet to extend signal range and carry commands throughout your home. It also provides customized lighting day and night via its illumination feature.

Our company is a Gallery dealer for Hunter Douglas, a leading manufacturer of window fashions. We will help you select beautiful window coverings from a wide variety of fabrics, colors, textures and styles, including the Alustra collection. We employ the finest Installers to complete your installation.

We are a company that prides itself on providing every customer with the highest level of service. Our outstanding knowledge, excellent designers and commitment to quality have made us the design center of choice for our customers and set us apart from the competition.