Smart Motors for Blinds and Shades: 2 Nm of Torque, Every Smart Home
Every motorized blind runs on a motor, and the motor decides how smoothly, quietly and reliably the shade moves for years to come. Here's what our motors do, what they work with and how we look after them.
In short
- Our smart motors deliver 2 Nm of torque, enough to lift the blinds and shades in most homes smoothly.
- They work with all the major smart home systems: Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and SmartThings.
- We program every motor at installation: limits, favourites, remotes, groups and scenes.
- Every motor and its programming is fully covered by our 3-year in-house warranty.
On this page
What torque means for a blind
A blind motor turns the roller tube that the fabric wraps around. Torque is how much turning force the motor can apply, measured in newton-metres (Nm). The wider and heavier the shade, and the bigger the roll of fabric, the more torque it takes to lift it smoothly.
Our smart motors deliver 2 Nm of torque. In practice that's enough to lift the zebra blinds, roller shades and other shades in most homes without straining, which keeps the movement smooth and the motor quiet for years. For unusually large or heavy shades, we check the size and weight at the measure so every shade gets the right motor.
Works with every major smart home
Our motors work with all the major smart home systems and voice assistants:
- Apple Home and Siri
- Google Home and Google Assistant
- Amazon Alexa
- Samsung SmartThings
- Control4, Crestron and Savant, through our low-voltage hardwired systems
You don't need to change the system you already use. We pair the shades with it, name them and group them by room before we leave. See smart blinds at home.
What you can do with them
- Open and close by remote, app or voice: "Hey Google, close the living room shades."
- Save a favourite position, such as zebra bands set for privacy with light.
- Group shades by room, by wall or for the whole house.
- Run schedules: open at 7 a.m., lower the west side at 2 p.m., close the street side at sunset.
- Combine shades with lights and other devices in scenes.
What you need at home
Most homes need nothing extra. The handheld remote works on its own, and app and voice control run through your smart home system, sometimes with a smart speaker or small hub you already own. We check what you have at the free visit and set everything up at installation.
Programming, done for you
We program every motor before we leave: the top and bottom limits, favourite positions, remotes, groups, schedules and pairing with your smart home. You don't need to open an app unless you want to.
Hardwired and whole-home systems
For new builds, renovations and homes with Control4, Crestron or Savant, we also install low-voltage hardwired motorized systems. They never need charging and connect directly to whole-home keypads and scenes. See Control4 motorized shades and pre-wiring for motorized shades.
Every product, motorized
Zebra, roller, triple, honeycomb and Roman shades, vertical sheers and curtains on tracks: we motorize every type of blind and curtain we sell. See motorized curtains and are motorized blinds worth it.
Common questions
Is 2 Nm of torque enough for a large window?
For the blinds and shades in most homes, yes. Very wide or heavy shades are checked at the measure, and a large window can also be split into two shades that move together.
Which smart home systems do your motors work with?
All the major ones: Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings, plus Control4, Crestron and Savant through our low-voltage hardwired systems.
Do the motors need Wi-Fi?
Not for everyday use. The remote and wall switches talk to the motors directly. App and voice control run through your smart home system, which uses your home network.
Are the motors noisy?
No. They make a soft, low hum for the few seconds the shade is moving.
What does the warranty cover?
The motor and its programming, fully, for three years. It is handled in-house by the WE Blinds team.
