Third Reality Blinds seem to be very reasonably priced. Can anyone with experience with them comment back about what they think about them after using them for a while?
THANKS!
I have one in my shop office. Easy to install and it works really well. It's a very simple blind and cheap, Couldn't talk the wife in to putting any in the house. She doesn't like the looks.
I have two in our bedroom (side-by-side to cover a large window), and they work very well.
I got 'em when they first came out, and there were most definitely some growing pains getting them to work well for a while there, but they're now very reliable.
Due to that initial experience, I still always action them via 2 (open / close) rules that are very belt-&-suspenders in terms of verifying desired position.
That window is always covered by a pretty translucent fabric curtain anyway, so the 3R blinds just ensure blackout at night -- during the day, it's nice to still get light through that curtain.
The other advantage to the curtain is that it hides the battery-replacement kit wires that I have attached to each blind. Running off AA batts is one big reason I chose 3R, since that enables a battery-replacement kit. That window unfortunately doesn't ever get any good sunlight, so solar recharging wasn't an option for me.
I just use the "Generic Zigbee Shade" driver.
Thanks. Could you expand a little on the looks. Is there something different about these vs. other blinds of a similar type? About how many cycles do you get out of the batteries?
Thanks!
Are you talking about aftermarket dc powered adapter with "dummy" batteries that actually replaces the AA batteries in the device?
Consider looking at blinds.com and then using an AM43 motor (if chain) or an iblinds v3 motor (if slatted)
I guess it's just a matter of taste. It's a basic accordion type shade, as I remember no color options.
As far as battery life goes, the first set of batteries in the shade lasted over a year. I installed the shade in Mar of 23 and had to put new batteries in it in June of this year. The shade is opened every morning at sunrise and closed every night at sunset. I don't go down to the shop every day, but it always seems to be open or closed when it supposed to be. Never had any issues with reliability. So I got > 365 X 2, cycles. The battery lasted over a year and I occasionally will close the shade if I am in the office and the sun light is bothering me.
Will do...thx
Here is my kitchen one...
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That's actually really awesome battery life. THANKS!
Thanks!!! Good enough to see one in the "real world."
Thanks for going to all that trouble.
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Anybody here have any experience using 3R blinds via outside mount? I'm curious how the sensor works to know when to stop lowering if it's an outside mount and doesn't have a windowsill to sit upon. Otherwise the 72" height is too much.
Or is it programmable to stop at a certain height?
You can set it to stop at any point. A simple procedure using the remote.
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An update. Went down to my office yesterday and noticed the blind was not opened as it should be. I looked and it had been over a year since I replaced the batteries, so I figured time to change again. Nope the shade is dead will not go up or down. Tried two sets of new batteries. It will not move, I tried the remote and the buttons on the shade. I can reset and re-pair it to the hub, but it can not be controlled.
I bought this on on Amazon and I looked through the reviews and there were several reviews saying their shade had died after a year to two. I bought mine in April 2023, so just over two years. These are not terrible expensive shades, I have it on a small window, 22" and it was $150. The price is still about the same but apparently you get what you pay for.
@terminal3 I had that same issue as you did, but I contacted third reality support and they send me a new blind and my blind was a little over the two year mark.
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I figured I was out of luck. I will contact them. Thanks
After a few emails they say they are going to send me a new control assembly that I will need to self install. Not sure what that will entail. We will see.
