Somfy ZRTSI Module Makes Motorized Blinds Accessible via Z-Wave

It would be nice if those blinds and shades were remote blinds and shades. Having automated shades allows you to easily let a little sun in during the winter and keep it out in the summer. Also, does anyone really enjoy running around the house to open and close the shades?

(If you actually need a few other excuses, check out these 5 reasons to get motorized blinds and window shades.)

Somfy Systems is making it easy to automate motorized blinds, via the Z-Wave to Radio Technology Somfy Interface (ZRTSI). This little box can receive Z-Wave transmissions and convert them to motor commands that your Somfy system will understand—and actually respond to.

Designed to work with Somfy’s full range of interior and exterior RTS motors, this Z-Wave bridge offers intuitive menu-driven programming and visual prompts on a backlit LCD screen. That sort of access makes adding those RTS motorized products into Z-Wave-based automation systems easier than ever.

Just plug the device into a standard AC electrical outlet, press the Select button, and look for “Somfy” on the LCD screen. From there, you can easily navigate and program the unit, following the included instructions and on-screen prompts.

Somfy says that this one little box can be used to control up to 16 individual RTS motorized products or 16 groups of RTS motorized products, using any Z-Wave home automation system. That basically means that you can add motorized blinds into your Control4 system, your Wink system, the Lowe’s Iris, SmartThings, and plenty of others. Of course, it also works with Somfy’s TaHomA home automation system, so you can combine Somfy-powered motorized blinds with things like lighting and thermostat controls to make the home even more energy-efficient.

Also worth mentioning is that Somfy recommends one ZRTSI be used for each 25- to 35-foot area where RTS motors are present.

Designed to replace the original ZRTSI (#1870202), the latest Somfy ZRTSI RTS 16 Channel Z-Wave to RTS Plug-in Interface Wall Module is available now, priced at $425.