Hi all
Looking at making my blinds smart and I see a lot of videos about both switchbot and Sunsa but I’m lost at which one works best for home assistant and was hoping someone in here could help me make my decision.
Thanks
Switchbot has a official bluetooth integration that works locally which their blinds support. You need to have a BT dongle or proxies though.
I don’t have any Sunsa wands but I know there is a HACS integration for them which uses the cloud.
So unless something has changed with Sunsa, both work in HA. So it’s up to you decide between cloud vs local and other things like aesthetics and price because they vastly differ when it comes to those 2.
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I have 2 sunsa and 1 switchbot. One other thing to consider is do you EVER need to manually open the blinds? Switchbot is easy just turn the wand. Sunsa not as easy. Sunsa are a sleeker option but honestly the cloud HACS integration is one reason I wouldn’t get anymore. Also the included solar panel for switchbot and a much cheaper price is great also.
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The only reason I didn’t get Switchbots is because all my blinds are vertical, which they don’t support.
Thank @Rice_Eater , i think the mini PC i run HA on has BT already, I think i will use switchbot in the bedrooms and office but i think i will probably have to use the Sunsa in the lounge as its for 3 blinds in a Bay window and the switchbots would not look so good aesthetically.
Thanks
I realize it wasn’t made for the job, but I use the Switchbot Blind Tilt to rotate my vertical blind slats, and it works great. Of course you can’t slide the slats open from whatever end you install the tilt, but after some simple surgery on the headrail, mine now slide from the (fornerly) fixed end. Just be careful not to remove all the hangers from the headrail because they will get twisted around. Depending on the brand (mine is whatever HD or Lowes sells) it can be a PITA to get the slats re-aligned, and mine are still not quite right.
I wonder if the SB Curtain 3 with the U-rail top would work to slide the slats open. I have the ones that go on a rod so unfortunately can’t test it.
Interesting. Can you post a pic showing more or less how you set it up?
Here you go! Let me know if you need more detail.
The only problem I had is that I misjudged where the parts go when I was installing, so the mounting base (part that sticks to the headrail) doesn’t quite reach and keeps getting pulled off. This makes the wand wobble when it turns and makes the whole process a little choppy. These blinds are only used in an automation that rarely occurs so I haven’t bothered to try to fix it.
I did mount the mounting base on the back of the headrail (instructions show it on the front) so that the contraption is behind the vein when they are closed. It pushes the vein out a little (though that could be because the mounting base doesn’t stay put).
Good luck! Keep us updated on your project.
Thanks! Your blinds are just like mine. The Sunsas push the vane out a bit too and on some blinds they push so much that the mounting base kept coming off. Had to use heavy duty double-sided tape. But even the stock dumb wand pushes the vane, so that’s rather a design quirk of these blinds.
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