I've motorized my rear blinds! ; link to pics now

adamskibx · Unread post by **adamskibx** » 13 May 2005, 02:44

HAHA superb you did it for me!! I did attempt to but it all got a bit complicated! Cheers for that.

vanny · Unread post by **vanny** » 13 May 2005, 06:22

but what is your MSN name, or do you really use MSN? my best guess failed something to do with 9000! you know im gonna have to try it!
Is the motor reversable? Im tempted to use my old RC motor, but im not sure how well it will cope without gears! Looks awesome though!

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 13 May 2005, 11:36

My first car - a 1946 Austin 8 had a rear window blind operated by a cord which ran on pulleys and could be reached easily from the drivers seat. I was never sure if it was intended for sun or headlight dazzle - which must have been an extreme problem as the bulb size was about 25 watt and the dipping achieved by turning off the off side lamp and tilting the near side one with an electromagnet. The blind itself was alike a domestic rollerblind with a dark loose weave thin cloth. (ie semi transparent)
JEREMY

adamskibx · Unread post by **adamskibx** » 13 May 2005, 16:08

Thats interesting Jeremy- When a friend of mine saw it he said he'd seen some old Bently or something with a cord operated one.
Vanny, the motor is reversable, it wires upto a two way switch, probably like an electric window switch-these would be even better i think, as they spring to the middle when you let go. The wire doesnt get tangled as the blinds keep it all under tension. As for using an old RC motor, i think thats what it is! Its a 540 size. You just need some way of gearing it down to at leat a 50:1 ratio I would guess.
My MSN details are [email protected] - think thats all you need. I do use it a lot- even communicate within the house on it sometimes!!

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 13 May 2005, 17:48

My Maplins (paper) catalogue in fact lists a number of different specs for these motors, and indeed a number of different but similar motors/gearboxes. The specs mainly seem to be different gearing so it may be possible to reach a satisfactory speed/reliability compromise.
The motors with gearboxes are not very expensive (£18.99 if I recall)
jeremy

ActivaV6uk · Unread post by **ActivaV6uk** » 13 May 2005, 19:05

Vanny dont use the 540 moter, it wouldnt be something i would even consider trying, buy a geard one get it working and then fit one to my xantia

Andy

adamskibx · Unread post by **adamskibx** » 13 May 2005, 20:04

Thats right Jeremy they are £18. Ive looked at the box mine came in and its a 148:1! So id guess a 100:1 would be ideal. Its slightly slower pulling the blinds up so I wouldnt go for too much speed. Ideally you need a sensor that turns the motow off in a given direction when the blind reaches the top or bottom-I currently have to watch until they get there as it would rip itself to bits if I left it running. I thought about a timer circuit but it would have to be different on the way up to the way down.

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 16 May 2005, 22:42

The circuit box (and switch) for the one-touch window on the TZD/GTi etc. might do what you want. I've sometimes thought about "one-touching" the sunroof control on a BX hatch in similar fashion.

adamskibx · Unread post by **adamskibx** » 16 May 2005, 23:20

Umm right yeah that sounds like a good idea- Do you know how these work? Vanny, i tried adding you to my MSN but your e mail was obviosly not the one you use? Adam