DUALR3 is suitable to DIY various devices to make them smart such as window shades, roller blinds, roller shutters, window openers, and so on. In this article, we’ll bring you to see whether it’s ideal for your home appliances when DUALR3 is in motor mode.

What is the motor mode of DUALR3?

DUALR3 is a multifunctional dual-channel smart switch module with power metering newly launched by SONOFF. It has three working modes:

Works with tubular motors:

Tubular motors are widely used for power roller shutters and curtains. There are three options for its wire in the market when you choose a tubular motor.

1. Wall switch control

This kind of motor has 4 wires – Neutral, Forward, Reverse, and GND. It can be used for DUALR3.

The Forward and Reverse means the live wires that control the rotation of the motor in a forward and reverse direction respectively. If the Neutral and Forward are enabled, the motor will turn forward, and the motor will turn back when the Neutral and Reverse are enabled.

It seems a little inconvenient to operate only through a wall switch, so it’s a great option to connect it to DUALR3. By placing DUALR3 in the switch box, in addition to the wall switch control, remote control and voice control can be achieved.

2. Wall switch/Remote control

This kind of motor has 5 wires and is a combination of a wall switch control and remote control. When you use the wiring combination of wall switch control, it can be used for DUALR3.

3. Remote control

This kind of motor has 3 wires which is the same control way as the combination of 3 wires (as shown in the above image) of 5 wires motor. Because the wires are directly connected to the power supply and the receiver is built-in the motor, so it can not be used for DUALR3.

If your remote control is 433MHz RF fixed code, SONOFF 433MHz RF Bridge will help you in this situation.

Main features of typical motors that applicable for DUALR3

  • Forward and Reverse rotation

In the motor mode, the two channels respectively control the forward and reverse rotation of the motor, and the two channels adopt the “interlock mode”, that is, they will not be on at the same time for the protection of the motor. The actual effect is that the device can move in two different directions, such as opening and closing curtains.

  • Uniform speed

With the motor running at a steady speed, DUALR3 can accurately calibrate and control the current position of the device.

  • Travel limit

The range of movement of the motor from the starting point to the endpoint is the motor travel, and the “travel limit” means that the motor will automatically stop when rotated to the start point and endpoint. The limit of some tubular motors is already set at the factory, while others need to be set on the motor yourself. You can ask the motor seller how to set up it.

When you first connect the motor, just need to click “calibrate motor” in eWeLink APP, DUALR3 will automatically calibrate the device’s travel, and then you can sync and control the device’s opening and closing to a specific location via the eWeLink APP. Most tubular motors have a travel limit, if your motor doesn’t have it, you can only control it open, close, and stop without to a specific location.

A wider range of applications

When DUALR3 works in the motor mode, it directly controls the motor and thus indirectly controls the device driven by the motor. Therefore, the only thing you need to check if the motor is compatible, regardless of the specific form of the device. For example, in the case of tubular motors, there are so many application scenarios as follows:

  • Single-sided curtain
  • Double-sided curtain
  • Roller blinds
  • Roller shutters
  • Shutter door
  • Window opener
  • Awning
  • Electric screen

Share your ideas

There is only introduced the main application ranges of tubular motors in curtains and roller shutters here. In reality, DUALR3 can be retrofitted into any single-phase AC motor with a power range of 10-240W and no more than 1A that requires two-direction control. What other brilliant suggestions or advice do you have? Welcome to leave a comment and share your thoughts with us!