BREL HOME: 'Narrower screens can now also be equipped with a battery motor'

Professionals are increasingly confronted with narrow, tall windows. Architecturally attractive perhaps, but a challenge for the sun protection specialist. Given that manually operated blinds are no longer preferred, the need for electrically operated screens is growing. With the increased demand for solar powered battery motors, the desire arises to also provide these narrow windows with screens with battery motors. In practice, solar motors were often found to be too long for narrow screens. A problem BREL HOME has solved with a new type of motor.

Narrow motor thanks to external battery

Despite the fact that BREL HOME is known for its battery motors with integrated battery packs, the Doetinchem-based company has made an exception. The new BCE 35-06 is only 503 mm long and equipped with an external battery pack. "The battery pack is weatherproof and measures 590 x 30 x 30 mm," says Erik Budding of BREL HOME. "If the dimensions of a screen's cabinet are taken into account, this battery pack can be mounted inside the cabinet. With a longer cable, it can also be mounted away from the screen." 

Each awning a battery motor with solar panel

With the introduction of the 50 Nm battery motor, BREL HOME offers the possibility to also equip awnings with a battery motor powered by a solar panel. "The specialist dealers who have already embraced this motor are very pleased with it, because now also the installation of a patio screen can be done inside without drilling, chopping or breaking," said Budding. "For all BREL HOME battery motors, the application of this technology also makes a nice range of control options available. Via the handy BREL HOME app and the addition of a wifi or bluetooth HUB, operation becomes a breeze and entire scenarios can be programmed. Those who need a helping hand in determining the ideal position for the solar panel can download the handy BREL SOLAR app for that purpose. Using the cell phone, the light output can be measured locally, after which the app advises whether the battery motor can be sufficiently charged." 

Whereas initially the battery motors with solar panels were mainly used for roller shutters and screens, BREL HOME now also sees that sun protection professionals use these motors for other forms of sun protection. As mentioned with articulated blinds, but also projects with traditional drop-down screens are now being completed with battery motors and solar panels, Erik Budding observes. "In such projects, where there are separate rooms/living areas, it is of course great that you only have to be on the outside of the property to mount and adjust the screens. That works neatly and saves a lot of assembly time." 

In addition to wifi now also a bluetooth HUB

More connectivity means more possibilities. This is reflected in the new HUB launched by BREL HOME under the name HUB-03. "The HUB-03 can be connected to the Internet router in two ways," explains Michelle Termaat of BREL HOME. "It can be done directly via a UTP cable, or via wifi. Adding motors is done via bluetooth, via the BREL HOME app. This works more directly and faster than before. Once the smartphone or tablet is connected via bluetooth, the motors appear on the screen and can be assigned and renamed. Thus, at BREL HOME we are constantly working on new applications and also looking at improvement possibilities in terms of installation and ease of use."