We have these big windows in our living room and I need to purchase custom sized blackout Roman Shades or Roller Shades for them. Since they’re tall, I would like to have a solar battery option (west facing window gets a lot of sunlight).
For those that have gotten motorized shades within the past year, which options did you consider? My initial research years ago had me looking at Yoolax. I’m reading there could be issues on HE. Is anyone else running those?
I have ordered blackout shades from Blinds Galore with a continuous bead loop (no motor). The shades are less expensive than most, can be customized, and are of high quality. Some of their shades are motorized. I then have purchased from SOMA Smart Home SOMA Smart Shades 3. They are very robust and reliable. I use their SOMA Connect on a Raspberry Pi Zero to control them with Hubitat using the HTTP request because I have some of their older version from 2021. The new Smart Shades 3 can be controlled directly with Zigbee and have a solar charging option.
I’d recommend https://www.smartwingshome.com/. Lots of options available for direct control (zwave/zigbee/matter/thread) and they are are quiet.
Thank you! I’ll have to check that out! What driver do you use in HE?
Smartwings zwave/zigbee/matter shades are on the compatiblity list. I use whatever driver they were detected as. they “just work”.
Good deal! Do you have the Zigbee or Matter? Thanks again for this! I order some swatches.
neither, i’m a zwave fan. The 2.4ghz spectrum in my area is already heavily used. for me 900mhz has much less interference, but pick the protocol that works best for your enviroment.
Z-Wave is actually best in my environment, but I didn't see the Z-Wave in the compatible devices list. But, if you're using it, then it must be fine. Thank you!
Smartwings, I use ZigBee for 18 indoor shades. z-wave for two outdoor shades. No issues with either protocol. I'm Matter adverse. ZigBee and z-wave both work perfectly. For me matter is a work in progress. No need, if you don't need it. I really like the roller shades. Get the fabric samples. Buy 1 and make sure it is what you really want. Measure the full width and height. They will subtract a little for the opening clearance. FWIW ZigBee motors are less expensive. Fully Hubitat compatible. The solar charging panels work very well.
Here is an interesting option for trapezoid windows. SmartWings Motorized Blackout Trapezoid Cellular Shades Nowa
Just wanted to thank everyone suggested SmartWings. Works great just out of the box using whatever Z-Wave driver it defaulted to. Seemless installation. I think the most difficult part was snapping the shades back into the brackets,
Hi HarleysWorld,
You're asking all the right questions for a project like this. Tall, west-facing windows need a solution that handles both light control and practical power management.
For your requirements, here’s a breakdown:
Regarding compatibility and brands: The smart home ecosystem changes fast. A brand that had integration issues years ago may have improved, or may have gotten worse. The most reliable path is to look for systems that use standard protocols like Z-Wave or offer a local, open API (e.g., a REST API) for hub integration. This avoids unreliable cloud dependencies and ensures long-term stability with systems like Hubitat.
For custom-sized motorized shades, especially with solar requirements, the best approach is to get a professional assessment. They can measure precisely, recommend the right motor for the size/weight of your shades, and ensure the solar option is correctly configured.
I work with these systems daily. We help homeowners navigate these exact decisions between compatibility, features, and installation. You can see a full breakdown of the motorized and solar options we offer at Accent Window Coverings. It might give you a clearer idea of what’s possible before you make a decision.
Good luck with the project! Those windows will be amazing once they're done.
Download the Hubitat app
