Automatic Blind Opener

http://contraptionmaker.info
We live in a 150 year old farm house with the original windows. Despite insulation and new siding, it is like living in a sieve, in the winter time . To combat this problem we install plastic over the windows to try and stop the drafts. This has to be installed on the inside or the winter winds will just tear it up. I built this contraption to open and close out blinds in the winter time.

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Step 1: The Power Source

I started with a Black and Decker $10 drill/screwdriver. I tried several different motors but none of them had enough torque to turn the shaft to open the blind.

Alcreion says: Mar 6, 2009. 4:55 PM

dont you think youd break the blinds if you hold one of the buttons too long?

purpulhaze in reply to AlcreionOct 11, 2009. 11:22 AM

One way to deal with that may be to use a limiting switch that would stop the motor once the blinds is fully open or closed.

philgenius in reply to AlcreionMar 6, 2009. 7:39 PM

Depends on the torque of the motor you're using;

A lot of torque = potentially break the blinds
Not a lot of torque = potentially burn out the motor.

I'd just not hold the button too long.

stephenniall says: Apr 6, 2009. 10:27 AM

At a auction i bought a box of motor from a car for £2 (About $4) and it has a Car window Opener motor thing It slides a Little plastic piece on a bar I was thinking of sticking it At the top of my Window and putting some cloth over my window and making a sorta Electronic Curtain opener

Solderguy says: Mar 8, 2009. 11:27 AM

You could have gone to radioshack and gotten an AA battery case, so you wouldn't have to tape the batteries together.

ContraptionMaker (author) in reply to SolderguyMar 8, 2009. 9:21 PM

Ya I did think of that but it would not fit in my project box.

jingerfinger says: Mar 7, 2009. 6:04 AM

You could probably use a rubber rod to transfer the torque. This way, if you ran the drill for just a little too long, the rubber could just twist a little instead of the blind mechanism breaking. Also, to avoid soldering, you can get those little plastic battery holders that hold 4 AA batteries. They're quite cheap.