are any DIY blind motors actually reliable?

[Power_Grafh]

Looking for a motorized kit for roller shades and finding it's a minefield of half-baked products. SOMA Smart Shades 2 looks decent but pricey, and honestly I don't trust solar charging to keep up over the long haul. Tuya/Zemismart motors seem to get good reviews and at least give you buttons and a remote, but reliability with WiFi gear can be hit-or-miss.

My blinds are 11 feet up and custom sized, so replacing them isn't happening. Just need a retrofit kit that won't crap out in a year or force me onto another cloud app. Anyone here already gone down this road? did you find a setup that's actually worth the money, or is it just a choice between two headaches?

 

[l0ngwave]

I had the same problem last year. My blinds were 11 feet up and custom, so replacing them wasn't an option. I used a Zemismart Zigbee motor with a local hub (Home Assistant). No cloud needed, and it's worked well for over a year. The remote is nice, but I mostly let it run on its own with automations. Just check that your roller tube fits the motor. It was the easiest fix I found.

 

[sw8revenge<3]

The more affordable motors from brands like Zemismart have a Zigbee option which can be much more reliable than WiFi because it creates its own local mesh network. That also solves your problem with cloud apps since these motors can be paired directly with a local hub like Home Assistant which gives you full control and no internet reliance. A lot these motors also have a USB C port for direct charging which is another reliable option. It is a trade off between cost and a bit of a learning curve but that path can lead to a very reliable system.

 

[CherryL3mon]

@Power_Grafh hey, I went through the same process and ended up building my own with a generic tubular motor.
honestly, it's not as scary as it sounds. If you like to do a little DIY, you can get a powerful, quiet motor on Amazon for a fraction of the price of the kits.
The key is to find one that's compatible with your home automation hub of choice (again, Zigbee or Z Wave are your friends). Just be sure to get a motor with enough torque for those 11 foot high shades

 

[Princess_Gwaelin]

You are right about solar charging being hit or miss. Most people end up preferring rechargeable battery motors since they are easier to keep topped up. The Zemismart and Blindsmart kits get decent reviews for being quiet and easy to set up, but you should keep the hub close by for stronger connection. If I were doing it, I would wire a small backup power line too in case the battery dies.