Motorized shades have always forced a choice. Either you recharge batteries a few times a year, or you pay to run power to every window. PoE blinds and shades remove that choice. One Ethernet cable carries both power and data to the shade, and Riverview IT now installs them in Chattanooga.
What are PoE blinds and shades?
PoE stands for Power over Ethernet. In fact, it is the same technology that powers WiFi access points and security cameras through a network cable.
SmartWings brought it to window coverings with its PoE Matter over Ethernet shades, which PCWorld covered at launch as the first of their kind. The motor sits inside the shade. A single Cat5e or Cat6 cable plugs into it, and the other end plugs into a PoE network switch. As a result, there is no battery, no outlet and no transformer at the window.
One cable for power and data
- Power. SmartWings PoE shades run on standard PoE or PoE+ switches. The motors draw very little, and SmartWings says a port that delivers more than 5 watts covers a standard shade.
- Data. Commands travel over the same wire, so there is no wireless signal to drop and nothing to re-pair.
- Distance. SmartWings supports cable runs up to 328 feet. However, it recommends staying under about 260 feet where you can.
- Noise. SmartWings rates the motors at 42 to 46 decibels, which is quiet enough for a bedroom or office.
- Outages. Put the PoE switch on a battery backup and the shades keep working when the power is out.
Works with Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home and SmartThings
The shades use Matter, the standard that lets smart home brands work together. Pair them with a Matter controller you may already own (an Apple TV or HomePod, an Amazon Echo, a Google Nest Hub or a SmartThings hub) and they show up in that app.
After that, you can set schedules, build scenes and use voice commands. In addition, a SmartWings remote works for quick control. If you run Control4, Crestron Home, RTI or ELAN, the shades connect through a SmartWings Smart Link hub.
PoE motors are available on roller, zebra, woven wood, Roman, dual, outdoor and standard cellular shades, each made to your window’s measurements.
Battery vs. hardwired vs. PoE shades
| Battery | Hardwired (low voltage) | PoE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power source | Rechargeable battery in the shade | Low-voltage power wire to each window | Ethernet cable from a PoE switch |
| Wiring at the window | None | Power wire | One Cat5e or Cat6 cable |
| Smart home connection | Wireless | Wireless | Wired, through the same cable |
| Upkeep | Recharge every few months | None | None |
| Best for | Finished homes where running cable is not practical | New builds and remodels | New builds, remodels, large shades and offices |
| Trade-off | Charging, which is a chore on tall windows | Power and control are two separate systems | Needs a cable at each window and a switch port |
What to know before you choose PoE
However, PoE shades are not right for every window, and we would rather tell you up front.
- A cable has to reach each shade. That is simple during construction and harder in a finished home. See our guide to prewiring for motorized shades.
- Each shade uses one port on a PoE switch.
- SmartWings says its PoE shades do not work with other brands’ wall switches and do not offer an open API. Control runs through Matter, the SmartWings remote or a Smart Link hub.
Why have Riverview IT install them?
PoE shades are a network project as much as a window covering project. First, someone has to run, terminate and test the cable. Second, the switch needs enough ports and power. Finally, the shades need to join your smart home.
That is the same work we do every day on UniFi networks and camera systems. As a result, we handle the cabling, the switch, the installation and the smart home setup, so one local company is responsible for the whole thing. See our smart home services.
PoE blinds and shades FAQ
Do PoE blinds and shades need WiFi?
No. They are wired. You need a PoE switch and, for app and voice control, a Matter controller.
What happens when the power goes out?
If the PoE switch is on a battery backup, the shades keep working.
Can PoE shades be added to an existing home?
Sometimes. With attic or crawlspace access, we can often fish a cable to the top of a window. Otherwise, battery shades are the better fit.
How many shades can one switch run?
One shade per port. The motors draw so little power that port count is usually the limit, not wattage.
See PoE motorized blinds and shades in Chattanooga
Building, remodeling or just tired of charging batteries? Call Riverview IT at (423) 500-0140, email help@riverviewit.com, or contact us online to talk through your windows.
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