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--- 2019:diy_motorized_blinds [2019/01/30 06:56] – created 192.168.1.36
+++ 2019:diy_motorized_blinds [2019/02/03 09:39] (current) – 192.168.1.36
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 ===== DIY Motorized Blinds =====
+Link to original article here:\\
+  * https://snorp.net/2016/05/20/blinds-controller.html
+  * https://github.com/snorp/BlindsControl
+Github Zip file of Source and PCB:\\
+  * {{ :2019:blindscontrol-master.zip |Blinds Control Zip of PCB, Program Source}}
 I have some 2” wooden blinds in my house that I’ve been wanting to motorize. Why? I’m lazy and I thought it would be cool to have.
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+I ordered my first batch of boards from Seeed Studio, as well as a bunch of supporting components from Digikey. The PCB orders typically take a little over two weeks, which is quite a bit more waiting than I’m accustomed to. I was pretty excited when they arrived, and started checking things out. I soon realized I had made a mistake. The component I had in my design for the motor connector (which is a JST-XH 5-pin) was the wrong pitch and size, so the socket I had didn’t fit. Whoops. The hardware world does not play well with my “just try some stuff” mentality from working with software. I found an EAGLE library for the JST-XH connectors, used the correct part, and ordered another batch of PCBs. This time I actually printed out my board on paper to make sure everything matched up. I had run across PCBShopper while waiting for my first batch of boards, so I decided to use a different fabricator this time. I chose Maker Studio for the second order, since I could pay about the same amount and get red boards instead of green. Another two weeks went by, and finally last week I received the boards. I assembled one last weekend using my fancy (and cheap!) new soldering station. It didn’t work! Shit! The Moteino was working fine, but the motor wasn’t moving. Something with the motor driver or connection was hosed. After probing around for a pretty long time, I finally figured out that the socket was installed backwards. It seems the pins in the EAGLE part I found were reversed. Ugh. With a lot of hassle, I was able to unsolder the connector from the board and reverse it. The silkscreen outline doesn’t match up, but whatever. It works now, which was a big relief.
+{{:2019:4x1vfao.jpg|}}
+I thought about putting the board in some kind of plastic enclosure, but it was hard to find anything small enough to fit inside the rail while also being tall enough to accomodate the Moteino on headers. I’m planning to just use some extra-wide heat shrink to protect the whole thing instead, but haven’t done that yet.
+Below are some photos and videos, as well as the entire list of parts I’ve used and their prices. Each device costs about $40, which is a pretty big improvement over the commercial options (except maybe the kickstarter stuff). Also important is that there are no wires or electronics visible, which was critical for the Wife Acceptance Factor (and my own, honestly).
+I’m sure a real EE will look at this and think “pfft, amateur!”. And that’s fine. My goals were to learn and have fun, and they were definitely accomplished. If I also produced something usable, that’s a bonus.
+{{:2019:6y5y8fg.jpg|}}
+{{:2019:asrs8x3.jpg|}}
+{{:2019:leehhzg.jpg|}}
+**Installed**\\
+This is the device installed in the blinds rail. As you can see, everything is hidden from the outside.