Window Automation

[Ibie 4]

Hi there Forum-peoples…

 

Here’s my post on Window Automation using chain- and spindle actuators with an Roller shutter 2 module from Fibaro…

 

Sure this is already done, but I think I found an way for easy hardware install and payable solution. An other reason is that i dint find a sollution within the Zwave products range that can open a roof dome up to 30cm or higher.

 

First off all, something about me…

I am an newbie in the Zwave (or so with Fibaro) world. I am learning by Trial on Error… The little things I know I learned in this forum and I follow @

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’s post mainly. Please keep in mind I am new to this, so always pick your own brain for your own solution you need for your house… I can only give you guys a head start or a burned down house.

 

I needed a solution for my roof domes and for my bedroom top windows.

 

So here is how I did it:

 

You need the following:

-          The right motor for your window

-          A regular Roller shutter wall switch (not automated)

-          Some electric cabling

-          A Roller shutter 2 module from Fibaro

-          A piece of wood to bite on when you get frustrated (so your wife won’t hear you scream)

-          The Power of @

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VD and Scenes

 

 

Choosing the motor:

There are a few things you might wane consider before buying the most expensive thing for this project.

-          How much space do you have to screw on and place the motor.

For my solution I always want to have a mosquito-net available. I build an extra wooden frame around my bedroom window to get it fitted.

-          How far do you want to have the windows opened?

I personally (by Trial on Error) think that 30 cm will do for the roof domes.

If you want more cm, then the motor you will need might be bigger and wont fit.

-          How much Newton power will you need.

On the website I will give you, there is a calculation table you can use, about the Newton power you will need. But I think about 250N to 450N will be enough. The more Newton the more you pay. Also lookout that the Power of the motor wont crush your window (my rooftop is from the material PVC)

-          Take a motor with an in build auto stop!

I think you need this to get it to work with the Roller Shutter 2 Module of Fibaro. You need to adjust a parameter (will discuss this later).

-          Take a good look at the currents you need for your country.

For easy installation I went for 230V motors (and not the 12V versions). They could be directly connected to the Roller shutter 2 module of Fibaro.

-          Which type of motor do you need (Chain- or Spindle Actuator)

I tried the Chain actuator first for my roof dome. But as it needs to open up to 30 cm the chain starts to hang to the right. So when wind blows there may be some sounds coming from the movement of the chain. I didn’t want this. If you only want to open an window for 15 cm then the chain version will work fine. A spindle actuator needs more space for placing. But I think a spindle actuator is ideal for Roof domes. For a top windows you want to go for a chain actuator. Else you don’t have the space for a mosquito net.

 

Take a look at this website:

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The company is in Italy.. At first I didn’t trust this website, because they have a few mistakes on it (like the VAT: it says its included but its not)

I tested the website by beginning to buy 1 motor first. The delivery took about 2 to 4 weeks to the Netherlands. Then again they are so cheap its unbelievable…

 

For my Roof dome I bought the: Spindle Actuator Raywin R45 450N 230V 50 Hz Comunello Mowin
Raywin R45 - stroke (mm): 235-300 mm

2 motors for 261 euro (incl Vat and shipment)

 

 

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For the bedroom Top Window I bought the: Liwin L35 Chain Actuator 230V 50 Hz L=<1250 Comunello Mowin
Comunello color choice: White

2 motors for 169 euro (incl Vat and shipment)

 

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I can adjust the max stroke with a dipswitch setting on the motors (Chain and Spindle)

 

Choosing a Wall switch (no automation):

I bought a standard roller shutter wall switch.

With this switch you can’t push accidentally up and down at the same time… Not sure if it is important, but I went for this solution. So if your HC2 isn’t working you still can close your windows.

 

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Choosing a Zwave module:

I went for the Roller Shutter 2 module from Fibaro.

 

Yes indeed, you need some space in your walling to connect all cables, the wall switch and the Fibaro module… So keep that in mind for where you want to place the switch’s.

 

I have two rooftop windows and two bedroom top windows… Yes you can connect all four windows to one Roller shutter 2 module of Fibaro (as long you don’t exceed the power levels of the module). But I need a different scene for my rooftop window (must close quicker when rain or wind) then for my bedroom top windows… So I decided to buy 2 Roller shutters…

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General tip: Buy only one thing of each item you need and make a test environment. Also test first and then place it.

 

 

Connecting it all:

Ok here you need to pick your own brain, if you cant then don’t start this project yourself. Get a friend to help you with the electricity etc.

 

In generally you can directly connect the cable’s from the motor for up and down to the Roller Shutter 2 Module of Fibaro Q1 and Q2. Use S1 and S2 for your wall switch.

 

 

 

Installing the Roller Shutter 2 Module from Fibaro:

For me this was the most difficult part. If you won’t succeed at first, don’t give up (I almost did)

 

Connect/install the Roller Shutter to your Fibaro.

I hope you have first made a test environment to setup your first motor.

You need to calibrate it for Max open and close. This took me some time and I found it easier to test it all, so I wouldn’t have to run across the whole house.

 

On the “Advance-tab” of your Device under topic “Advanced” you need to put the “Controlled Device:” to “Blinds with positioning active”

 

Parameter 18: Here starts your Trial on Error and you need that piece of wood I mentioned in the beginning and place it between your teeth…

I have set my Chain actuator to 3 Watt for parameter 18.

If you don’t change this setting it will not work.

You now have to press Calibration button (almost back on top off page). If the Chain doesn’t go all the way up or down, adjust the amount of Watt.

I noticed that while going Up or Down, the Roller Shutter 2 module of Fibaro needs to detect an amount of power. So it knows if the motor is on its top or bottom.

This is also why you need to buy an Motor that has its own Auto Stop. So when the motor has power, the roller shutter module senses it and gives it current until the motor stops and doesn’t consume power.

 

For my Spindle actuator it didn’t work with only adjusting Parameter 18.

They are different motors so I had set this Parameter 18 to 6Watt.

But still it didn’t always worked. Then I found that I also needed to adjust parameter 17.

I set this parameter to 5.2 seconds. I think this is the time it waits when last minimal current was measured…

 

So playing with Parameter 17 and 18 was my biggest struggle.

 

Scenes

Now you have created your devices, you need a scene…

Again as a newbie I just created something that works for me. It has no clean code (error checking etc). I hope that @

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or others will use my solution so I can get a proper Scene in the future.

 

Because I have Netatmo weather station I can use the CO2 lvl for automatic opening. Handy if you have visitors. It might also first check if the windows shouldn’t be opened in case of wind and rain. One other thing I like about window automation is that with an simple code you can at it to your smoke alarm, opening windows when smoke is detected so you get the change to run out of your house without to many smoke in your way. Even now you got use for the Netatmo Noise sensor. It can help you close your bedroom window when noice is detected.

Not hard to code but I have no need for this now.

 

For now I only created a scene for automatic closing, when it rains or when the wind gusts are too high.  I did this for the wind and rain separately.

 

 

 

I use an Netatmo Wind- and rainsensor.

 

You will need the power of @Sanktronic 

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   -  to get the weather information.  

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   -   for the scene’s to start.

 

WindRoofDomeClose - Scene:

When Windgust are to high i need them to close automaticly.

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RainRoofDomeClose - Scene:

 

This script is checking the weather on

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As a test I also added a check for my Netatmo Rainsensor. If Internet would be down, it works as a sort of fail save… Floors will be wet because it will take at least 15 min. to close. But rather 15 mins then hours of rain in my home when I am asleep in summer.

 

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Icons:

Roof Dome device and scene:

 

Bedroom Top Window Device:

 

Note:

Please keep in mind I am still a rookie… Not used to create this automation and not used to write about what I have created… Hope my post will help some of u to take a leap of faith and start automate your windows.

 

I like to end this as @

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says: Enjoy coding and in this case assembling 

 

 

I am also working on a Walking Fridge solution…

But as long my future wife’s name isn’t Fridge, it’s not going to happen

[Sankotronic 2,093]

Hi @Ibie,

 

thank you for this very nice solution! I plan in future to add something like this for several windows!

[jimicr 89]

Nice solution @Ibie,

I see you're from the Netherlands aswell.

I use this for my scene that checks windows and for rain a buienradar VD

Works quite well, maybe something to look into. With the scenes posted you can send warnings/ run actions x minutes before rain.

 

Jim

[Ibie 4]

7 hours ago, Sankotronic said:

Hi @Ibie,

 

thank you for this very nice solution! I plan in future to add something like this for several windows!

 

Thnx Sanktronic...  Dont wait to long, I want your Windows automation scenes and VD

 

 

1 hour ago, jimicr said:

Nice solution @Ibie,

I see you're from the Netherlands aswell.

I use this for my scene that checks windows and for rain a buienradar VD

Works quite well, maybe something to look into. With the scenes posted you can send warnings/ run actions x minutes before rain.

 

Jim

 

@ 

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 Thnx

 

I was looking for a solution like this, but couldn’t find it. Last week i finally stumbled on it in this forum...

 

But no weather reports seem to be working... Nothing seems to give me a good result. Even Buienrader isn’t reporting my rain very good...

 

I have a solution laying around, but it will cost me some money and I need to get power outside to give my solution juice... Not really my solution though, its a solution I got from Robbshop.nl

 

It’s a Kemo rainsensor in combination with the binaire sensor off Fibaro.

I think putting it outside with a battery pack is not going to work. Because it will be drained to quick.

 

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Edited April 18, 2017 by Ibie

[jimicr 89]

Robbshop has some nice projects and things, if you want to go for a completer solution (and bring 12V= outside) you could also use a Fibaro RGBW module and set to sensor.

I don't have any experience with this but maybe a nicer solution:

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 (diagram on the left).

Edited April 18, 2017 by jimicr

[Ibie 4]

3 minutes ago, jimicr said:

Robbshop has some nice projects and things, if you want to go for a completer solution (and bring 12V= outside) you could also use a Fibaro RGBW module and set to sensor.

I don't have any experience with this but maybe a nicer solution:

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 (diagram on the left).

 

Looks interesting… I will keep this in mind. thnx