Motorized shades for large windows can be hard to do. Most of the motors that exist for residential applications are fairly small, so lifting a large shade can be a challenge. Hunter Douglas has had limits on their honeycomb or cellular shades that made it a real challenge to cover some of our large windows here in Reno or Lake Tahoe. As of July 5th, 2016 Hunter Douglas is increasing the size of motorized shades that they can do. Their PowerView motor system is including a motor upgrade and now you will be able to do shades as large as 174 inches wide by 144 inches high. Can you imagine a window 14 1/2 feet wide by 12 feet tall? That’s a big window. These will still be battery operated, though in the video attached to this blog, we show the advantage of a DC power supply. Just because you CAN lift a shade with batteries, doesn’t mean that it is the best option for you. There are many reasons to have a shade that is plugged into permanent power. On large shades, it is advantageous because battery operated shades depend on the power coming from a degradating source. Batteries continue to wear down over time and the higher the power needed, the more quickly they break down.
Large Motorized Shades
In my own home I have a large window with a Hunter Douglas Duette Blackout Shade. The window is about 8 x 5 feet. I end up changing the batteries for the motorized shade more than once a year. When I upgrade this shade, I will be adding the DC power supply so I will never change the batteries again.
DC Power Supply
If the battery pack is difficult to access, like when the motorized shade is very high or is blocked by furniture or a fixture, like a bathtub, you might also prefer to make sure your motorized shades are wired. If you need a consult on what would work best for you, we are happy to assist you.
About Us
Kempler Design is located in Reno NV and serves the northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe regions with a mobile design showroom. Paul Kempler, its founder is considered a window fashions expert. Kempler Design has been featured in many prestigious projects, including the HGTV dream home in Lake Tahoe. Kempler Design works with homeowners as well as interior design firms looking for a local contact in the Reno/Tahoe area or is available for travel to your area.