Roller shutter control options – which solution to choose?

Controlling external roller shutters significantly facilitates their daily use. In addition to comfort and convenience, this mechanism makes it possible to manipulate parameters such as the extent to which the room is heated or the amount of light provided. All this is possible by adjusting the level the roller shutter is rolled down. 

Nowadays, thanks to their functionality, external window shutters are one of the elements used in the construction industry. Before choosing the right external roller shutter control, it is worth familiarising yourself with the systems available on the market and their specification in order to select a solution that fully meets your requirements. The most important parameters to pay attention to include their price, mechanism used for their operation and connection type. 

There are currently two main types of roller shutter control on the market:

• Manually operated external roller shutters – for those seeking a cost-effective solution. Manual control requires pulling the cord manually or turning the crank to set the shutter in motion. Clearly, group control of roller shutters is not possible in this case. Each roller shutter has to be operated individually, while raising and lowering them requires force every time.
• Electrically operated external roller shutters – this is currently the most popular preference among those who decide to install external window shutters in their home. This is mainly due to the incredible convenience offered by this solution. In the case of electric control, it is possible to close and open roller shutters with a single button on the control unit or via a smartphone. Radio controllers used in electric control allow shutters to be set even throughout the house.

Manually operated external roller shutters are raised and lowered by pulling a string or using a crank. However, this solution is not ideal. The main disadvantages:

• A bit outdated solution that does not increase the attractiveness of the property.
• Installation of manually operated shutters may cause aesthetic problems as their control elements do not always match the interior design.
• The lower popularity of manual control results also from the low level of comfort of use since such a mechanism requires a lot of effort and time from the user, especially if the operation is repeated several times a day. 

However, manually operated external roller shutters feature two very important advantages:

• A low-cost solution as no electronic components are required, which considerably reduces the price of such a system.
• The design of manual external roller shutters is very simple and therefore failure-free. This avoids electronics-related failures that sometimes affect more modern counterparts and can be expensive.

Electrically operated external roller shutters are becoming increasingly popular due to their many advantages. Electric control makes it possible to raise and lower external roller shutters using a radio or cable motor. They can be operated individually or several at once. Electrically operated roller shutters also allow the installation of so-called timer programming, which can be linked to alarm system set up at home. This function is very useful and allows, among other things, to raise roller shutters after entering the building and turn off the alarm. Roller shutters protect the room from excessive heat gain, while in the evening provide a cosy, intimate and pleasant atmosphere at home. Control units applied in roller shutters feature time programming function, which can be incredibly useful when going on vacation or a longer business trip. By raising during the day and lowering at night, they can imitate our presence in the house, while deterring potential thieves. Motors in modern roller shutters also allow to measure ambient temperature, sunshine intensity or precipitation, adjusting their operation to the prevailing weather conditions.

The most popular and economic solution incorporated to external roller shutters are cable motors. Their control is done by means of a button switch, which is usually mounted on the wall near the roller shutter and allows to manually control the up-down position. In most cases, one remote control can operate a single roller shutter, so when more window screens are installed in the house, a switch should be installed at each shutter.

A much more practical solution is the radio motor. External roller shutters with radio control can be operated via a remote control from anywhere in the house within range of the radio wave receiver. Radio motors are perfect for more complex control systems. Depending on the receiver model and type, external roller shutters operated via a remote control can be controlled from one device even if there are dozens of them. The motor can only be connected to the power source by a cable. The power supply for each roller shutter can be brought from a socket or electrical box. In the case of wired motors, power must also be routed to button switches, which must be inserted into the wall. This often involves interfering with the wall structure of the building.

Radio and cable motors often come with overload functions. This means they have a special mechanism to stop the roller shutter in the event of excessive overload or detection of a frozen ground. Such a system is also ideal when encountering obstacles on its way. It is worth using this solution if you plan to install central, radio or timer control of a group of roller shutters or if you want to link roller shutters to applications supporting smart homes.

A solution that is perfect for use not only in modern, but also in slightly older buildings, are external roller shutters equipped with a photovoltaic panel. It does not require an additional power source and works regardless of the weather – even on cloudy days. A very durable battery is placed inside the cassette, which is powered by a photovoltaic panel fitted on the roller shutter cassette.  External solar roller shutters enable remote control not only by means of a radio remote control, but also a temperature or light intensity sensor. In the event of too high temperature or excessive sunshine, the roller shutter controller closes it and protects the room from overheating. When the temperature drops, the shutter opens to let more sunlight in. This system is compatible with smart home solutions, allowing remote control of roller shutters via a smartphone or tablet. 

External roller shutters as part of smart homes become increasingly popular trend. They have a number of advantages that can successfully overshadow their biggest drawback, namely the price. The intelligent system of external roller shutters allows them to be controlled not only from any room in your home, but also from any place around the world with Internet access. Applications used to operate roller shutters and safe and user-friendly, while the role of the remote control can be performed not only by a smartphone, but also a tablet, computer or even a smartwatch. The status of smartphone-controlled roller shutters can be monitored in real time.

Electrically operated external roller shutters, which are part of the smart home, can raise or lower at user-defined times, effectively preventing excessive heating of rooms during the hottest hours of summer days and preventing children from getting up too early. On the other hand, they make it easier to get up if you want to be woken up by the sun’s rays. Another example of the use of intelligent external roller shutters is to control them by selecting the appropriate scene. For example, the scene marked as the exit will close all roller shutters in your home, switch on the anti-burglary system or disconnect the power supply to electrical sockets. An equally unique example is the romantic scene where one click is enough to cover all roller shutters, creating an intimate atmosphere.

External roller shutters installed in smart homes also protect during break-in attempts. In the case of unwanted entry of intruders into the property and the household members are not present, all shutters can be closed remotely, making it difficult for burglars to escape. However, to avoid such situations, it is important to remember that intelligent external roller shutters can simulate your presence by raising and lowering in accordance with the daily schedule.

In conclusion, the extensive range of external roller shutters does not help in making a purchase decision. The key is to choose the right type of control, taking into account the number of windows and the needs of the household members. A large number of options makes it possible to match perfect external roller shutters that meet your expectations. External roller shutters are the best solution to ensure privacy and protect rooms from break-ins, excessive sunlight or overheating.

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