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A Practical Guide to Blind Motors & Controls

Choosing the Right Motor for Residential and Commercial Installations 


Automating blinds is no longer a luxury feature; it’s now an expected part of modern homes, offices, schools, and retail spaces. The key to a successful installation isn’t just choosing a motorised blind, but selecting the correct motor type, power source, torque rating, and control system for the environment. 


This guide explains the different types of blind motors available and, most importantly, which motors are best suited to different installation scenarios. 


Blind motors are typically defined by: 


Power Options: Battery vs Hardwired 


Battery Motors (Integrated or External)


Battery-powered motors are ideal when running cables is difficult or undesirable. They feature built-in radio receivers and rechargeable lithium batteries, often offering up to 300 open/close cycles per charge. 


Available types include: 


  • Integrated battery motors (e.g. 32 Series, 40 Series, 45 Series, 50 Series battery models) 

  • External battery pack options (XB models) 


Best for: 

  • Retrofit installations 

  • Finished homes 

  • Apartments 

  • Rental properties 

  • Small commercial upgrades 

  • Situations where wiring is disruptive 

Advantages: 

  • No electrician required 

  • Faster installation 

  • Clean finish (no visible cables) 

  • Optional solar charging

Considerations: 

  • Periodic charging required 

  • Slightly lower torque options compared to hardwired


Hardwired (Mains Powered) Motors 


Hardwired motors run on 240Vac mains power and provide higher torque, continuous operation, and zero charging downtime. 


Best for: 

  • New builds 

  • Major renovations 

  • Commercial buildings 

  • Schools and offices 

  • Large or heavy blinds 

  • High daily usage 

Advantages: 

  • Constant power 

  • Higher lifting capacities 

  • Ideal for multiple blinds and automation systems 

  • No maintenance charging 

Considerations: 

  • Requires electrician 

  • Cabling must be planned early 





Torque & Lifting Capacity Explained 


Torque (Nm) determines how heavy a blind the motor can lift. Choosing too small a motor leads to poor performance and a shorter lifespan. 


Here’s a practical breakdown from the range: 

Torque 

Typical Lift Capacity 

Typical Use 

0.5–0.6Nm 

~2–2.5kg 

Small, lightweight blinds 

1.1Nm 

~4.5–5kg 

Standard domestic rollers 

1.5Nm 

~6–6.5kg 

Medium blinds / heavier fabrics 

2Nm 

~8–8.5kg 

Larger domestic / light commercial 

3Nm 

~25kg 

Large tubes / commercial 

6Nm 

~25kg 

Wide or heavy commercial blinds 


Roller Blind Motor Options 


Small & Lightweight Blinds (32mm tubes) 


32SERIES: 0.5Nm, Integrated Battery 


Great for small domestic windows 


Use when: bedrooms, bathrooms, small rollers 



Standard Home Blinds (40–45mm tubes) 


40SERIES: 1.1Nm 

Available in: 

  • External battery 

  • Integrated battery 

  • Hardwired

Use when: most residential living spaces. This is the “everyday go-to” motor. 



Larger Residential / Light Commercial (40–45mm tubes) 


45SERIES: 2Nm, Battery or Hardwired

Handles wider blinds and heavier fabrics 

Use when: Patio doors, Wide windows, Retail fronts, Small offices 

 

Heavy Duty / Commercial (40–55mm tubes) (supports up to 25kg)



50SERIES: 3Nm or 6Nm 

Options: 

  • Battery (6Nm) 

  • Hardwired mechanical limits (3Nm) 

  • Hardwired electronic limits (6Nm) 

Use when: Schools, Offices, Large spans, Blackout blinds, High-frequency use 




Roman, Pleated & Venetian Blinds


24SERIES: 0.6 to 0.8NM

Available in: 

  • External battery 

  • Integrated battery 

Best for: 

  • Roman blinds 

  • Pleated blinds 

  • Venetian blinds


Electronic vs Mechanical Limits 



Electronic Limits 


  • Set positions digitally 

  • More precise 

  • Easier setup 

  • Ideal for smart homes 


Mechanical Limits (50SERIES-H-M)


  • Manual adjustment screws 

  • Simple and reliable 

  • Good for heavy-duty commercial installs


Control Systems 


Motors include built-in radio receivers and can be controlled via: 



Handsets 

1 Channel:

  • Operate up to 20 blinds as a group

15 Channel

  • 15 individual channels, 1 group  channel

  • Operate up to 20 blinds as a  group

  • Digital display


Wall controls 


  • 15-channel

  • Magnetic wall bracket, Uses 3 x CO2032 batteries

  • Digital Display 

The Home Hub

WiFi hubs allow: 

  • App control 

  • Scheduling/scenes 

  • Battery monitoring 

  • Alexa / Google / Siri integration 

  • Up to 30 blinds (Mini or Luxury hubs) 


Installation Recommendations 


Residential Retrofit 


Best choice: Battery motors 

Typically 1.1Nm or 2Nm 


Why: No wiring, faster install, cleaner finish 

Residential New Build 


Best choice: Hardwired 

1.5–2Nm standard, 6Nm for large spans 


Why: Wiring can be hidden during construction, with zero charging 

Apartments / Rentals


Best choice: Integrated battery 


Why: Non-invasive installation 



Offices / Schools / Commercial 


Best choice: Hardwired 3–6Nm 


Why: Higher duty cycles, larger blinds, constant use 

Large or Heavy Blinds 


Best choice: 50 Series 6Nm

 

Why: Handles up to 25kg and wider tubes 

Roman / Pleated / Venetian 


Best choice: 24 Series 


Why: Compact design and lighter lift requirements 


Quick Selection Cheat Sheet

Scenario 

Recommended Motor 

Small home blind 

32SERIES battery 

Standard window 

40SERIES battery 

Wide patio door 

45SERIES (2Nm) 

Retrofit project 

Any battery model 

New build 

Hardwired models 

Commercial space 

50SERIES hardwired 

Heavy/large blind 

50SERIES 6Nm 

Roman/Pleated/Venetian 

24SERIES

 

 Need More Information?


Don't see the information you need? We're happy to help. Get in touch at sales@ellard.co.uk or find out more on our website.


 


 
 
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