The SwitchBot Bot, a smart button presser, has been a hugely successful smart home device that is incredibly innovative. It is one of those things I have always meant to buy but never go round to.
SwitchBot has kindly sent me their Curtain Combo pack to try out, including the newest SwitchBot Curtain, a hub, a remote and a temperature/humidity sensor.
I have been contemplating automating my bedroom curtains or turning them into automated blinds for a while now. I wake up very early, only use the bedroom for sleeping, and have a terrible habit of leaving the curtains shut, which can extend for days at a time. So this product looks great for me and is considerably more affordable than some of the alternatives I have been looking at.
SwitchBot Curtain vs other automated curtains & blinds such as Somfy
One of these issues I have with automating curtains or blinds is that it almost certainly would have required me replacing everything with only certain types of curtains and blinds that can be retrofitted.
There are various automated blind rollers, but in the rooms that I have blinds, they are Venetian so not compatible with automated solutions. Similarily all the older automated curtain solutions required the roller style curtain to manage opening and closing.
If you want proper automated blinds or electric curtain rails from the likes of Somfy you will have to pay quite a high price. Blinds are around £240, but the Somfy Irismo 45 curtain rail is £579.
The SwitchBot Curtain is the first solution I am aware of that allows for easy retrofitting on your existing curtains.
The concept is simple and effective. It is literally a little motor with a roller than sits in between the 1st and 2nd connectors of your curtain then rolls left or right to open/close.
The unit itself is quite big and ugly, but it sits behind your curtain, so there should be no visible sign of it.
SwitchBot Curtain Cobo Features and Specification
- Compatible with rod, U rail and I rail
- Curtain Rod type supports Grommet, Ring Top, Back Tab and Tab Top curtains.
- App-controlled
- Sunlight sensor
- Up to 8 months battery
- Optional solar panel to extend battery
- Compatible with SwitchBot button for easy remote control.
- Works with Alexa, Google, IFTTT and SmartThings
