| To operate, the motors inside motorized shades must | | | | without requiring a processor. This is just now being |
| be given commands from a button, switch or keypad | | | | released and will be open up several large segments |
| of some kind. These commands can travel over wires | | | | of the market for Lutron, namely; retrofit situations and |
| or wirelessly to interface with the motor and give it | | | | smaller sized shade systems. |
| instructions. Wireless operation implies radio or infrared. | | | | QEDs can also be controlled using a wired solution, |
| The difference between the two technologies is simple | | | | both analog and digital. Controlling a QED shade with |
| to explain; infrared is like a television remote, radio is like | | | | analog wires is a shame because the expense and |
| a garage door opener. Infrared requires pointing (also | | | | inconvenience of wiring has been endured but the |
| called 'line of sight operation') - radio does not. Today's | | | | mini-processor in the motor (QED) is not being used. |
| consumers are not interested in aiming their remote to | | | | The analog, wired solution is simply telling the QED to |
| control shades and this is rarely used except in single | | | | move up, down or stop. No shade alignment, no |
| shade applications. | | | | feedback. The only reason analog wired control is |
| Wired control is either analog or digital. Analog means | | | | available is to integrate Lutron QED shades into overall |
| simple contact closure, basically no more advanced | | | | control systems/home automation systems |
| than a simple light switch which touches two wires (or | | | | (processors) that are not made by Lutron. |
| 'closes' two 'contact' points) together or separates | | | | How shades are controlled is a key determinant of the |
| them to give an on or off command (raise and lower | | | | type and degree of wiring required. Wired control |
| replace on or off). Digital implies that data is traveling to | | | | solutions must be homerun from the shade motor |
| (and from) the switch and a small brain inside the | | | | location to a central control room. These power and |
| motor. Data means information - and that is what is | | | | control wires connect with a processor that in turn has |
| transmitted to the motor's internal mini-processor and | | | | control wires running out to keypads or switches. A |
| received from the data processor/computer in the | | | | button press or switch flip will send the relevant |
| control room. The major difference between analog | | | | command back to the processor in the control room |
| and digital is that the processor will know where the | | | | which relays the command to the motor which raises, |
| shade is and can align the shades perfectly regardless | | | | lowers or stops the shade. Though the routing is |
| of tube size. | | | | circuitous (questionable word choice), this all happens |
| Somfy's ST30 (low voltage) and ST50 (line voltage) | | | | instantaneously. |
| motors can be controlled wirelessly via RF or wired | | | | Wireless control solutions require (not surprisingly) less |
| via analog control, but only the ST50 motor can be | | | | wiring. The drawback with fully wired control and |
| controlled digitally via wire. Somfy's digital Sonnesse | | | | power solutions is that frequently clients are not |
| motor is known as the IST50 (I stands for intelligence). | | | | interested in hearing about complex wiring |
| Since the ST30 is not able to be controlled digitally, it is | | | | requirements, especially in retrofit situations. |
| rarely advisable to have a smaller, ST30 motor | | | | Recognizing that Lutron's wired solution had a |
| operating a shade in the same room as an ST50. | | | | weakness, Somfy made a strategic move to exploit it. |
| Recall that the ST30 and ST50 series motors have | | | | In the year 2000, Somfy introduced wireless control for |
| different motors sizes and therefore tube diameter. | | | | motors ('RTS' or 'Radio Technology Somfy' is the term |
| Physics tells us that a smaller diameter tube will turn | | | | they use) and even battery operated motors. A |
| faster than a larger diameter tube - this does not | | | | reliable and simple wireless shade control solution, RTS |
| mean it will roll the shade up faster (since the tube is | | | | meant that shades only required an outlet to plug in for |
| smaller) but it does mean that the differing tube sizes | | | | power - control was wireless. RTS also reduced the |
| will result in shades rolling up at slightly different speeds. | | | | price of motorized shades drastically since less wiring |
| This is a consideration for the motor provider to be | | | | meant less need for electricians and line voltage wiring. |
| aware of; nothing the consumer needs to worry about. | | | | In retrofit situations, less wiring also meant less drywall |
| Lutron's QED Shades can be controlled wirelessly via | | | | damage and the associated costs to repair and |
| infrared and recently via RF. Initially, RF was only | | | | repaint. All of these factors made selling motorization |
| available with a Homeworks processor which made | | | | easier, not only due to reduced costs but also |
| smaller jobs uneconomic, but very recently, Lutron has | | | | perceived difficulty and disruption from the dealer's and |
| introduced a line of RF Shades that can be controlled | | | | the client's perspectives. |