Update 10/30: For the smaller windows my batteries are now too low to pull all the way up. That is 7 months of life with heavy use! These Zebra Blinds have really changed the way our home looks, they are super smart too!
Thank you! I own the Bali Springs window treatments and the instructions per the manual are not correct. However, after this video I now have it connected to my smartthings as well as Alexa! For others looking for help, 12:20 is where you’ll need to look for this.
Hi Cru - I have motorized blinds installed (1 year ago) with a remote but do you know if I can add a hub to it now, to make it smart enabled? Any ideas which hub would work?
you sir, just made me confident in purchasing from zebra now. thank you! I am following your directions 100% once the blinds come in. So glad to finally have a voice controlled blinds solution
@@TechWithBrett So I'm wondering why set the blinds as a dimmer switch for Alexa and not a ' Z Wave dimmer switch generic', any advantages or disadvantages?
The "Virtual Cord" Controller is a ZWave device, like the blinds. That's why it pairs into SmartThings. This means you could potentially use it for anything. It seems to show up as a scene controller.
@@davidlever3107 I didn't. I had to use normal motorised blinds and soldered the remote with Arduino. Like this www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Connect-Your-Somfy-Remote-to-Alexa-With-an-/
my issue is that when i programmed 2 blinds to one remote and put them on smart things successfully, at some point the blinds at "open" are closed, and when they are closed, they drop even further. in other words, how can i reset the shade height to be all the open when it actually says its open?
Just got something similar and love them. Do you still have to change the api to dimmer? I'm turned off by having to say "on or off" when it comes to blinds. I thought Google was capable of responding to "open and close". Any help or update would be appreciated.
@@NeilMcGarry is this something new? The Z-Wave blinds I got back in February can be controlled percentage-wise via smart things but not Alexa. I went into the SmartThings API and changed them to a dimmer and now they do. I believe when set as a blind it's either on or off
I'm having issues getting my bali blinds to open/close with the smarthings app. They'll only close 5-6%, and the app won't let me choose a higher %. If i use the remote it works fine... any ideas?
The battery level reporting went away when you changed the device type to a dimmer switch in smartthings api. Same thing happened to me just now. So either Alexa voice control and no battery level or vice versa...🤔
Shades look really nice. I prefer these to blinds. Really like not having the pull cords etc hanging down although if the batteries die or the motors fail I guess there is no way to open or close?. You have a great view of the mountains by the way.
Ah levelor manual cellulars from Lowe's would have been about $500 the Bali z wave motorized shades were almost $900. That's for 2 blinds 91" by 26". It's worth to me to not have to open them every morning and close them every night
Cool but I'll call her it Department to put it up. They put my last set up with light sensors on my balcony. I think I'll stick with what I got but like the look of them. And you can always get a plug-in put in so you can plug them in directly to the power. LOL have a great day take good care of the family!
I own a blind company and if you read the label. It requires LITHIUM BATTERIES. Not those cheap batteries. They will explode inside the batterie pack. They will only last 5 months or even wayyyy less.
Update 10/30: For the smaller windows my batteries are now too low to pull all the way up. That is 7 months of life with heavy use!
These Zebra Blinds have really changed the way our home looks, they are super smart too!
What you do
Thank you! I own the Bali Springs window treatments and the instructions per the manual are not correct. However, after this video I now have it connected to my smartthings as well as Alexa! For others looking for help, 12:20 is where you’ll need to look for this.
Hi Cru - I have motorized blinds installed (1 year ago) with a remote but do you know if I can add a hub to it now, to make it smart enabled? Any ideas which hub would work?
you sir, just made me confident in purchasing from zebra now. thank you! I am following your directions 100% once the blinds come in. So glad to finally have a voice controlled blinds solution
Glad I could help!
This is my new favorite tech channel. I forgot to tap the bell. Just did
Awesome video. Thanks so much for posting..couldn’t have programmed without the help of this tutorial.
This helped me pair the SmartThings app with my shades. Thanks!
Super interested in something like this when I move into my new apartment. The blackout version though so I can control the lighting in my YT Studio.
That would be the perfect solution to get the lighting perfect every time. What do you think of my drone shot? More to come!
@@TechWithBrett So I'm wondering why set the blinds as a dimmer switch for Alexa and not a ' Z Wave dimmer switch generic', any advantages or disadvantages?
DOPE VIDEO BRO!! I'M GLAD THAT JIMMYISPROMO IN TRODUCED US TO EACH OTHER... YOU HAVE A LIT CHANNEL BRO!
what exact style blinds were these in the video you ordered from zebra?
The "Virtual Cord" Controller is a ZWave device, like the blinds. That's why it pairs into SmartThings. This means you could potentially use it for anything. It seems to show up as a scene controller.
Great video. Thoroughly explained
Those are some awesome shades man! Who plays piano? That's a nice one.. Just asking because I play as well👍
That's awesome! I wish I could play better but the kids are going to pass me up in a few years. th-cam.com/video/9LOiXaAeRfg/w-d-xo.html
What are the options for european z-wave version? Zebra looks very nice and cheap.
did you find anything in europe?
@@davidlever3107 I didn't. I had to use normal motorised blinds and soldered the remote with Arduino. Like this www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Connect-Your-Somfy-Remote-to-Alexa-With-an-/
Can we use this and the smart things hub with an iphone?
my issue is that when i programmed 2 blinds to one remote and put them on smart things successfully, at some point the blinds at "open" are closed, and when they are closed, they drop even further. in other words, how can i reset the shade height to be all the open when it actually says its open?
aren't they veru noisy indeed? any other option like that for europe?
Just got something similar and love them. Do you still have to change the api to dimmer? I'm turned off by having to say "on or off" when it comes to blinds. I thought Google was capable of responding to "open and close". Any help or update would be appreciated.
I know with Alexa you have to change to dimmer, just did it tonight. Switching to dimmer turns off the battery level indicator as s side note
@@chrisd4432 not true
@@NeilMcGarry is this something new? The Z-Wave blinds I got back in February can be controlled percentage-wise via smart things but not Alexa. I went into the SmartThings API and changed them to a dimmer and now they do. I believe when set as a blind it's either on or off
chris diesenbruch the shade level slider controls how far they open
@@NeilMcGarry thanks, I'm aware of that but can you set the level by voice control?
I'm having issues getting my bali blinds to open/close with the smarthings app. They'll only close 5-6%, and the app won't let me choose a higher %. If i use the remote it works fine... any ideas?
Brett, are you still pleased with this product? I am not tech savvy and curious about zwave for roller shades.
The battery level reporting went away when you changed the device type to a dimmer switch in smartthings api. Same thing happened to me just now. So either Alexa voice control and no battery level or vice versa...🤔
Didn't change the type in the end and use Alexa routine to open/close.
Shades look really nice. I prefer these to blinds. Really like not having the pull cords etc hanging down although if the batteries die or the motors fail I guess there is no way to open or close?. You have a great view of the mountains by the way.
I guess that is a downside I forgot to mention the batteries are required. These shades open up the view to the mountains much more!
Once they are in SmartThings, if SmartThings crashes you'd also have issues controlling them as the buttons are added via SmartThings
Good review thanks. Can you do a video on the ROAV by Anker? Google assistant in your car, cool idea.
When you changed the type to Dimmer is when you lost your battery readings. Thanks for the video.
at these prices they can keep them ! This is crazy ! More expensive thant the window itself ! Ridiculous
I'll keep looking for cheaper solutions. Thanks for the feedback.
Ah levelor manual cellulars from Lowe's would have been about $500 the Bali z wave motorized shades were almost $900. That's for 2 blinds 91" by 26". It's worth to me to not have to open them every morning and close them every night
Thanks for the video review!
So I can’t say ok google half way open blinds?
Can u please send me ur wallpaper link on s10?
WALL-E & EVE S10+ Wallpaper imgur.com/gallery/M1G2iqH
@@TechWithBrett Thank you!
That's nice & great review...
Direct from China?
Why AA batteries? You can shrink it and make it last soo much longer using 18650s instead!
started pricing out pretty basic options (aside from the z-wave part) and they were going to be $400+ per window. Way too expensive
Nice one
Been looking at these for so long just so damn expensive!
Cool but I'll call her it Department to put it up. They put my last set up with light sensors on my balcony. I think I'll stick with what I got but like the look of them. And you can always get a plug-in put in so you can plug them in directly to the power. LOL have a great day take good care of the family!
I own a blind company and if you read the label. It requires LITHIUM BATTERIES. Not those cheap batteries. They will explode inside the batterie pack. They will only last 5 months or even wayyyy less.
I use NiCad rechargables and have to charge them every six months.
FIBARO Z-Wave FGR-223
Price.... 600 for one window. Bahaha, they can stick that in a blender and keep it.
Your windows need some cleaning!
That is very true!
Noisy
I dont't like this cheap crap
So you're telling me I should buy $100 Shades because you're too lazy to get up and pull the string I'll stick to $20 shades
If that works for you do it. There are many people that may not be able to do the same so this is a great option for them.
Uuuh they cost way more than $100, more like $400+. They just aren't affordable for anyone other than upper class.