#Lutron dc shade control full

First, Somfy produces motors and control systems, but you use them in combination with shades designed by other companies. It's difficult to compare Lutron's and Somfy's pricing for a couple reasons. Lutron wins by a landslide when it comes to control, thanks to more out-of-the-box options. While Somfy has quite a few options for control, all of them require extra hubs or bridges. Both shades can be used with Amazon Echo with a little extra setup time (and in the case of Somfy, an extra expense). Lutron works with HomeKit, meaning you can command your shades with Siri. Remotes aside, both devices allow for app control - although they both also rely on a hub for that control (see next section for pricing). Lutron's remote is smaller, and thus easier to lose, but it has one-touch OPEN and CLOSE buttons, as well as up and down buttons to find the perfect setting.

Somfy's remote looks fine, but only has three buttons - Open, Close and a personalized My setting. You can also control them manually, either via a dedicated remote control, a mobile app, or even using voice commands.īoth Somfy and Lutron shades include a remote control.

By getting your shades online and linking them to your phone, you can set them all to move according to a schedule, to the weather, or in some cases to the temperature in your home. The raison d'être of of smart shades is automation. Of course, for the roller shades I was using, I had to drill holes through the mounting plate - yes, you read that right - which took more time, tools, and cleanup than I would've liked.įor installation, Somfy and Lutron are both inconvenient - so we'll call it a tie. Lutron has batteries in the body of the shade itself, which makes it much more standard to install. On many windows, the shade and battery tube just won't fit. Somfy's battery tube is separate from the shade itself, requiring you to secure it to the molding of the window behind the shade fixture. I opted for the battery packs for both shades, because power cords are inconvenient and often look tacky.īattery packs have a problem, too: they make the shades heavier and require extra space. Unlike standard shades, automated ones have battery packs or power cords. Shades are easy to set up if you have the time and tools, but both Somfy's and Lutron's products have design features that make installing them a pain. If you've got the cash and you want the shades, the question is: Which ones should you buy? To help with the decision, I conducted a head-to-head comparison between Somfy's motorized shades and Lutron's Serena Shades - two popular contenders in today's market. If you're really ambitious, you can even control home temperature more economically, by scheduling the shades to open and close at specific times. Opening the shades is more efficient - especially when you can just issue Siri a voice command to operate them. I use the shades at the CNET Smart Home more than any light switch. Besides being a great gadget to show off for friends, smart shades can change how you interact with your home's natural light.

#Lutron dc shade control full

After matching their style to the décor of your home, and buying enough units for a whole space, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a full set of smart shades.īut they aren't just expensive decorations. Let's get one thing straight right away: smart shades are luxury items. What are the options? Which ones are the best? They might be cool, but how much is 'cool' worth? Unlike devices with higher visibility, such as the newest smartphone or tablet, connected shades can be difficult to learn about.