How to choose the right motor

A practical guide to choosing the right power supply, motor size and control options for your next installation.

Motorisation offers convenient operation, greater control and the option to integrate window shading into a smart home. With different motor sizes, power supplies and control options available, the right choice starts with a few practical questions.

1. Choose your power supply

Battery motors

Rechargeable battery motors are ideal where a permanent mains connection is unavailable or inconvenient. They suit retrofit projects and individual blinds, and avoid the need to run new power cables. Dream battery options include 15mm, 38mm and 45mm roller motors with USB-C charging. Consider access to the charging point, especially on high windows.

Mains motors

Mains-powered motors avoid periodic recharging and are useful where power can be planned in advance, such as new builds, refurbishments and larger installations. Dream’s newer 38mm and 45mm mains motors convert AC power to 24V DC internally, providing consistent speed, three adjustable speed settings, soft start/stop and ultra-quiet operation. Mains electrical work should be carried out by a suitably qualified person.

Wired motors

Wired motors may suit projects with specialist control or home automation requirements. Confirm the control protocol, wiring arrangement and compatibility before specifying.

2. Select the motor size

Motor diameter is a useful starting point, but the finished blind’s width, drop, weight and tube compatibility must all be checked. Dream offers motor options across 15mm, 38mm, 45mm and 55mm sizes. The right motor is not necessarily the largest: it is the one that meets the finished blind’s requirements.

* For blinds larger than the stated maximum dimensions, contact Decorquip to discuss requirements. Confirm all figures against the latest Dream product specifications before publication.

3. Check roller tube compatibility

Motor diameter and roller tube diameter are not necessarily the same. For example, compatible 38mm Dream motors can be used with 38mm or 45mm roller tubes when the correct crown and drive are fitted; compatible 45mm motors can be used with 45mm or 55mm tubes. Check the motor, crown, drive and brackets together, particularly when manufacturing blinds in-house.

4. Decide how the customer wants to control the blinds

For straightforward operation, a handheld remote or wall control may be all that is needed. Multi-channel controls allow individual or grouped blind operation. For additional flexibility, the Dream Hub Smart and Dream App offer smartphone control, rooms, scenes and schedules. Compatible systems can also integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Discuss future smart-control requirements early, even if the customer initially only wants a remote.

5. Consider the installation

Is there a suitable power supply at the window, or would a battery motor be more practical?

Can the charging point be reached easily if a rechargeable motor is chosen?

Do the blind dimensions and finished weight fall within the motor’s limits?

Will multiple blinds benefit from grouped control or scheduled operation?

Are the required crown, drive, brackets, cables and controls included?

Choosing with confidence

Start with the available power supply, check the finished blind’s dimensions and weight, confirm roller tube compatibility and discuss the preferred controls. Dream offers battery-powered, mains-powered and wired options for a wide range of roller blind projects. If you are unsure, contact the Decorquip technical team for guidance.