Control4 Motorized Shades and Curtains: How Integration Works
In a Control4 home, shades should behave like the lights: one button, one scene, one schedule for the whole house. Here's how we make motorized shades and curtains part of the system.
In short
- Low-voltage hardwired shades are the most reliable match for Control4, and our specialty.
- Shades appear on Control4 keypads, touch screens, the app and in scenes.
- We install and program the shades; your Control4 dealer adds them to the system.
- Every motor and its programming carries our full 3-year in-house warranty.
On this page
What Control4 does with shades
Control4 is a whole-home automation platform that ties lighting, audio, video, climate and security together on keypads, touch screens, remotes and an app. Once motorized shades join the system they can:
- sit on keypads by the door or the bed ("Close bedroom shades");
- be part of scenes ("Movie": lights dim, shades close, TV on);
- follow schedules and sunrise and sunset times;
- respond to other events, such as closing when the alarm is set.
How the shades connect
Shades join Control4 through the shade system's own interface, which Control4 talks to through a driver. In most of our Control4 projects the shades are low-voltage hardwired: each motor has power run to the window and connects to the shade system's controller, which links to the Control4 controller. Your dealer then adds each shade to rooms, keypads and scenes.
Who does what
- WE Blinds: measures, supplies and installs the shades and curtains, connects the shade wiring, programs the motors (limits, favourites, groups) and tests everything.
- Your Control4 dealer: adds the shades to the Control4 system and programs keypads, scenes and schedules.
- Your electrician or builder: runs low-voltage cable and adds blocking before drywall, to the plan we agree.
We coordinate directly with your dealer so nothing falls between trades.
Planning a Control4 shade project
- Choose the windows to motorize and the product for each: roller, zebra, triple, honeycomb, Roman, vertical sheer or curtains.
- Pre-wire during framing: cable to each window head and track end, and blocking above windows. See pre-wiring for motorized shades.
- Decide the controls: which keypads run which shades, and the scenes you want.
- Install and program: we install and program the shades, then the dealer integrates them.
- Hand over: we show you the shades working from keypads, the app and remotes.
Scenes people love
- Good morning: bedroom shades open and the kitchen lights come on.
- Away: the street side closes and the lights follow a lived-in pattern.
- Movie: lights dim and the shades and curtains close.
- Goodnight: every shade closes and the lights go off.
Crestron and Savant
Crestron and Savant work the same way: the shade system connects to the controller, and the integrator adds the shades to their keypads and apps. We work with integrators on all three platforms.
Not on Control4?
Homes without a whole-home system get the same everyday control from our smart motors with 2 Nm of torque, which work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and the other major smart home systems. See our smart motors.
Common questions
Can existing motorized shades be added to Control4?
Often, if the shade system has a Control4 driver or a compatible interface. We can check the motors you have at the visit.
Do we need hardwired shades for Control4?
Hardwired low-voltage shades are the most reliable choice and our specialty, but some wireless motor systems also connect through a bridge. We recommend the best option for your home.
Who do we call if a shade stops working?
Call us. Every motor and its programming is covered by our full 3-year in-house warranty, and we coordinate with your dealer if the issue is on the Control4 side.
