Automating blinds is an innovative solution that can enhance the functionality and convenience of a home. The HydraRaptor blog explores the process of automating blinds using a custom design.
The author used a gear motor and a printed pulley to drive the ball chain that operates the blinds. The chain was trapped between two pulleys, and the second pulley was used to drive a threaded shaft with a nut that triggered limit switches.
For the electronics, an ESP8266 module running Tasmota firmware and controlled by a Home Assistant server on a Raspberry Pi 4 was used. The motor was driven by an L6203 full bridge driver chip, and a custom circuit board was designed in KiCad.
The author highlights the use of Short Heatfit inserts for printed gears and pulleys, which were purchased from CNC Kitchen. This demonstrates the importance of using quality components in DIY automation projects.
The article also mentions Adafruit, a company that publishes a wide range of content related to the maker market and technology. Adafruit strives to provide fair, informative, and positive content within the community. The article includes a link to Adafruit’s standards page, which outlines the ethical standards they aspire to.
In conclusion, automating blinds with a custom design can be a fun and challenging DIY project for those interested in home automation. The key elements of this article are:
- The use of a gear motor and printed pulley to automate blinds
- The use of an ESP8266 module and Home Assistant server for control
- The importance of using quality components
- A mention of Adafruit and their commitment to fair and informative content