---
title: "Blinds \u0026 Awnings"
description: "How TapHome controls blinds, roller shutters and awnings by motor timing: blinds vs slides, calibration after power loss, slat angle and sun orientation."
url: "https://taphome.com/en/docs/functional-areas/blinds-slides-awnings/"
language: en
lastmod: 2026-11-06
generator: hugo
ai:
  topics: ["blinds-configuration","roller-shutters","awnings","timing-control","slat-angle","sun-orientation","calibration"]
  questions: ["What is the difference between Blinds and Slide device types in TapHome?","What are the default duration values for blind position and angle changes?","How do I configure window azimuth and offsets for sun-based blind adjustment?","What happens to blind position after power loss and how does auto-calibration work?","How to copy blind settings to multiple devices using Duplicate properties?","When should I use 90° vs 180° blinds type configuration?","What do motor startup duration and direction change compensation settings control?"]
---

# Blinds & Awnings

Last updated: 2026-11-06

Position and angle of TapHome Blinds is based on timing. Micro-controller inside module that controls at least 2 digital outputs, calculates exactly how long the blind is going in up and down directions.

## Types of Blinds

There are basic 2 types of blinds:

- **Blinds** (with angle)
- **Slide** (without angle)

| Blinds | Slide |
|--------|-------|
| ![Blinds 90°](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/blinds90.gif) ![Blinds 90° angle adjustment](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/blinds90Angle.gif) | ![Slide without angle](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/slide.gif) |
| Set Level and **Angle of slats** | Only possible to set Level |

## Service Settings of Blinds

### Calibration

**Start calibration when module is initialized** (default On). When micro-controller inside the module is reset, e.g. by power loss, it loses information about position of the blinds. With this setting enabled, it will calibrate itself by going to top or bottom position after every power loss.

**Module stores last position on power off** (default Off). If the used hardware module supports this feature (e.g. 12DO Module), it is able to store the motor position also after power loss to the module.

### Slats Angle Adjustment and Sun Orientation

These sections are used only when Smart Rule **Blinds Adjustment According to Sun** is used.

#### Type of Blinds

| 90º | 180º |
|-----|------|
| ![90° blinds](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/blinds90Angle.gif)<br>Slats are in horizontal position when **Angle of blinds** = 0% | ![180° blinds](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/blinds180Angle.gif)<br>Slats are in horizontal position when **Angle of blinds** = 50% |

#### Azimuth and Offsets Determine When Sun Ray is Reaching the Window

| Attribute | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| **Azimuth of the window** | Degrees from North direction (0º = North, 90º = East, 180º = South, 270º = West) |
| **Offset from Top** | Angle from top, when sun is blocked by another object and not reaching the window |
| **Offset from Bottom** | Angle from bottom, when sun is blocked by another object and not reaching the window |
| **Offset from Left** | Angle from left, when sun is blocked by another building and not reaching the window. (0º = no obstruction, 90º = sun is blocked by another building when it comes from left side) |
| **Offset from Right** | Angle from right, when sun is blocked by another building and not reaching the window. (0º = no obstruction, 90º = sun is blocked by another building when it comes from right side) |

![Sun offset diagram](https://taphome.com/documentation/functional-areas/blinds-offset-diagram.png)

### Duration

For proper calculation it is crucial to configure following 4 duration attributes correctly:

1. **Duration of change of position from 100% to 0%** (default: 60000 ms)
   - Time required for blind to travel from fully open (100%) to fully closed (0%)

2. **Duration of change of angle from 100% to 0%** (default: 750 ms)
   - Time required for slats to rotate from one extreme position to another

3. **Motor startup duration** (default: 180 ms)
   - Compensation time for motor acceleration

4. **Compensation of duration for direction change** (default: 200 ms)
   - Time compensation when motor changes direction (accounts for inertia)

> [!NOTE]
> **Example calculation:**
> When changing angle in multiple steps (e.g., from 0% → 50% → 100%), the system adds startup delay and direction change compensation for each step:
> - Direct change 0% → 100%: 750 ms
> - Two-step change 0% → 50% → 100%: 750 ms + 180 ms (startup) + 200 ms (direction change) = 1130 ms

### **Duplicate** Properties to Other Devices

After configuring one blind properly, you can **Duplicate its properties** to other blinds:

1. Go to the **Device** tab
2. Select the configured blind
3. Use **Duplicate properties** feature
4. Select target devices

This copies all timing, calibration, and sun orientation settings to multiple devices at once.

**See also** — [Velux](https://taphome.com/en/docs/integration/velux/).

## Blinds and awnings tasks

- [Calibration Wizard](https://taphome.com/en/docs/functional-areas/blinds-slides-awnings/blinds-calibration-wizard/) — Calibrate the blind timing with the wizard
- [Azimuth](https://taphome.com/en/docs/functional-areas/blinds-slides-awnings/blinds-azimuth/) — Enter the window azimuth for blinds that follow the sun
- [DC Blinds](https://taphome.com/en/docs/functional-areas/blinds-slides-awnings/encoder/) — Set up DC blinds with encoder position feedback