WINDOW SHADE CONTROL INSTALL
WINDOW SHADE CONTROL SOFTWARE
WINDOW SHADE CONTROL SERIES
WINDOW SHADE CONTROL TV

I’d also love to automate shades opening if it’s raining - how cool would that be! - maybe in a few years.) Home & Control Center Philips Hue Motion sensor reports light levels by lux to HomeKit, for example, but you can’t automate by that metric yet - even if third party apps that let you trigger automations by temperature which isn’t available in Apple’s Home app.

WINDOW SHADE CONTROL SOFTWARE

(Using the right sensors and software in the future, you could possibly even automate shade activity based on temperature targets and brightness levels.

WINDOW SHADE CONTROL TV

As always, note that automation with the latest version of iOS will require a HomePod, Apple TV 4 or 4K, or an always-connected iPad running the latest version of iOS to work. HomeKit automation triggers have gotten more flexible over time which makes automating accessory control for smart shades around your actual routine possible. You could also automatically close the shade if no one is home by creating an automation for when the last person leaves home, or close the shade if the light switch in the same room is flipped on. HomeKit automation supports each of those variables, and the window shades open reliably if each condition is met.Īnother instance is closing the shades if they’re open at 10 pm - regardless of day of the week or if anyone is home.

Automation can do a lot of the work for you if you program a few steps around your routine.įor example, I tested automatically opening the office shades at 8 am local (when I begin work) on Monday through Friday if I’m present (based on my iPhone location. Voice isn’t the only way to control HomeKit windows and coverings like Serena Motorized Shades. Siri can control HomeKit shades from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, and (starting with macOS Mojave) the Mac. Simply saying “Open the window” to a HomePod in a room with a HomeKit shade in the same room will only open that window since HomePod is room aware. If you have multiple HomeKit window shades, you can open each shade at the same time with a command like “Open all the windows” or only open specific shades by naming them based on room or name. Siri can also tell if you the shade is up or down (note that 10% up is still open). Siri intelligently understands commands like “Lower the shades a little” which closes the shade by 10%. Other natural language like “Lower the shades” or “Open the window” works to completely close or completely open the shade. Siri can open the shade, close the shade, or set the shade to a specific percentage like 30% or 78% - no five, ten, or twenty-five percent intervals to learn. I was pleased with the flexibility here as I first referenced the accessory as blinds, then shades, only to realize the literal name it was given was window. Siri recognizes the accessory with a variety of names. Note that you can use Serena Motorized Shades with physical Pico remotes, the Lutron app, HomeKit, or any combination - for our use we’ll focus on the HomeKit side.įor my testing, Serena Motorized Shades were installed in my home office and assigned to the Office room in the Home app with ‘Window’ as the accessory name.

WINDOW SHADE CONTROL INSTALL

Install the motorized shades hardware in place, add each unit to the Lutron iOS app, then the Home app and HomeKit automatically pick up the new accessory.

If you already use the Lutron Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge with another product like the in-wall dimmer switches, connecting Serena Motorized Shades to HomeKit is totally simple. Lutron has been in the lighting and shades business since the 1950s so they certainly have experience in this product category. Lutron makes the smart wall switches ( reviewed) that make existing lighting work with HomeKit, and their Serena Motorized Shades were early HomeKit adopters thanks to the same Lutron Caseta Bridge. We’ll be working with the Serena Motorized Shades by Lutron. Apple lists four compatible accessories in this category - two announced and two available. This week we’re checking out one of the most convenient but costly HomeKit areas: windows.

WINDOW SHADE CONTROL SERIES

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.

Window shade control