Insolroll® quiet shade motors

Insolroll Quiet and UltraQuiet motors for a little more peace in your life

How quiet is quiet?baby asleep photo

Today's quiet shade motors are significantly quieter than shade motors of the past. You used to have to trade convenience for noise, but increases in technology have made Insolroll Quiet motorized shades extremely quiet, and Ultra Quiet Shades virtually silent. But how quiet are they really?  Making a simple comparison helps put it in perspective.

Insolroll Quiet motors dB scale

  • 38 dB: the sound level of gentle raindrops
  • 44 dB: the sound level of a humming refrigerator
  • 47 dB: the sound level of a quiet office
  • 49 dB: the sound level of moderate rain

Quiet vs. UltraQuiet

As Insolroll shade motorization has advanced, "quiet" has become the standard for most motors. Our new "Ultra Quiet" motors now offer a premium level of quiet operation for applications where virtual silence is needed or desired.

blackout shades bedroom textured

Insolroll Quiet motorized shade technology

Available models with superior torque of up to 6 Nm allows quiet motors to be installed for almost any application on the market. Also available on coupled shades.

Insolroll Quiet Motors (IQM) are standard in hardwired Insolroll motorized Shades. IQM series motors operate in the range of ≤42dB to ≤49dB, which is approximately equivalent to a noise level between the hum of a refrigerator and the sound level of moderate rainfall. Moderate rainfall is indicated by constant raindrops–more than occasional drops and less than a downpour.

Quiet Embedded Battery Motors

Onboard Li-ion battery holds a charge for approximately 12 months.

  • BAT-L2-R: 2.0 NM Somfy Radio Motor with embedded Li-ion rechargeable battery, Minimum width 29 ¾"
  • BAT-L1-R: 1.1 NM Somfy Radio Motor with embedded Li-ion rechargeable battery, Minimum width 25 ¾"
  • BAT-X1-R: 1.1 NM Somfy Radio Motor with external battery pack, Minimum width 18"

Four-wire Directional Quiet Motors

  • IQM-AC: Somfy 110V AC with Wired Switching/Control, Minimum width 29 ¼"
  • IQM-AC2: Somfy 110V AC with Wired Switching/Control, Minimum width 22 1/4"

Radio Quiet Motors

  • IQM-ACR: Somfy 110V AC Radio Control Motor, Minimum width 31 ⅛"
  • IQM-ACR2: Somfy 110V AC Radio Control Motor, Minimum width 23 ⅞"
  • IQM-DCR: Somfy 24V DC Radio Control Motor, Minimum width 18 ⅜"

Intelligent Quiet Motors

  • IQM-485 AC: Somfy 110V AC Digital Motor with 2-way feedback/Digital Control, Minimum width 31 ⅛"
  • IQM-485 DC: Somfy 24V DC Digital Motor with 2-way feedback/Digital Control, Minimum width 18 ⅜"

 

Insolroll UltraQuiet motorized shade technology

For applications demanding motorized window shades that operate in virtual silence, Insolroll UltraQuiet Motors incorporate the latest in noise reduction technology. Perfect for bedrooms, conference rooms, office, and hotels.

Insolroll UltraQuiet Motors (IUQ) are Insolroll's quietest motorized Shades. IUQ series motors operate in the range of ≤41dB, which is approximately equivalent to the soft hum of a newer refrigerator. Insolroll UltraQuiet motorized shades are engineered with specialty hardware to further reduce overall sound level.

Insolroll Ultra Quiet shade idler

  • Patented helical gearbox for uniform sound quality in both up and down directions
  • Improved spring brake to eliminate the noise of shade stopping
  • Steel tube housing lowers the motor's vibration level
  • Shock-absorbing elastomer suspensions isolate the motor from the external tube reduce vibration transmission.
  • Ultra Quiet Idler keeps shades even quieter

UltraQuiet Four-wire Directional Motors

For what application(s)?

  • IUQ-AC: Somfy 110V AC with Wired Switching/Control, Minimum width 36 ⅜"

UltraQuiet Radio Motors

Applications?

  • IUQ-ACR: Somfy 110V AC Radio Control Motor, Minimum width 37 ¼"
  • IUQ-DCR: Somfy 24V DC Radio Control Motor, Minimum width 34 ¾"

UltraQuiet Intelligent Motors

For home automation system applications

  • IUQ-485 AC: Somfy 110V AC Digital Motor with 2-way feedback/Digital Control, Minimum width 34 ¾"
  • IUQ-485 DC: Somfy 24V DC Digital Motor with 2-way feedback/Digital Control, Minimum width 34 ¾"

ultra quiet idler

Quiet Shade Hardware

Insolroll's UltraQuiet Idler further reduces mechanical noise, and produces a virtually silent motorized shade when used with Insolroll UltraQuiet Motors.

  • Spring-loaded
  • Smooth bearings
  • Twist to adjust

Using a decibel meter, it's easy to see that operating an Insolroll UltraQuiet Motorized Shade combined with the UltraQuiet Idler adds nothing to the reading obtained measuring the ambient noise of the room.

Motorized Shade Brackets

Exposed Roller Bracket

For exposed roller shades, decorative brackets for motor and idler sides of shades with matching bracket covers. Available in Black, White, and Silver/Grey.

Exposed bracket for Insolroll quiet shadesexposed bracket with cover for Insolroll quiet shadesexposed bracket colors for Insolroll quiet motorized shades

Fascia Bracket

For motorized shades with fascia system covering the roller. Available in White, Black, Bronze, Vanilla, and Grey.

4 inch fascia bracket for Insolroll quiet shadesfascia bracket with cover for Insolroll quiet motorized shadesfascia colors for Insolroll quiet motorized shades

 

Adjustable Shade Coupler Assembly

For joining multiple shades using a single motor.

Insolroll quiet shade hardware coupler system
Easy adjustment coupler system

Twist to adjust

Insolroll quiet shade hardware coupler assembly
Exposed bracket coupler assembly

Sound in everyday life.

quiet nursery father and baby

Loudness isn't the same as sound intensity. According the CDC, "How loud something sounds to you is not the same as the actual intensity of that sound. Sound intensity is the amount of sound energy in a confined space."*

When we think of loudness, we really mean the way that we perceive audible sounds, which is different than what the decibel scale measures. Generally speaking, a sound must be multiplied ten times in order to be perceived as twice as loud. A simple example: it would take 10 trumpets playing together to make a sound just twice as loud as a single trumpet.

Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB). Because the decibel scale is logarithmic, it can be difficult to appreciate the real difference between one sound intensity and another. The reason the scale is logarithmic is that sound intensity grows very fast. A sound that measures 20 dB is actually 10 times more intense than another sound measuring at 10 dB. The intensity of a sound measuring 30dB is actually 100 times more intense than a 10 dB sound.

An easy way to understand shade motor sound levels

As humans, we understand things best by making comparisons, and this is true of sound levels. Comparing the sound level of a shade motor operating to a sound we are familiar with is the easiest way to understand the sound level of that motor.

  • 0 dB: the softest sound that can be heard
  • 10 dB: the sound of normal breathing
  • 20 dB: the sound of leaves rustling
  • 30 dB: the sound of a soft whisper
  • 38 dB: Insolroll IUQ UltraQuiet motors, quiet raindrops
  • 40 dB: quiet library
  • 44–47 dB: Range of Insolroll IQ Quiet Motors, quiet office
  • 50 dB: Insolroll Driven by Lutron™ patio shade motors; Moderate rainfall (not a downpour)
  • 60 dB: Normal conversation
  • 70 dB: Vacuums
  • 80 dB: Garbage disposal, blender
  • 90 dB: Power mower, motorcycle at 25 feet
  • 100 dB: Jackhammer, jet flyover at 1000 feet
  • 120 dB: Chainsaw, thunderclap
*cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html