Fluorescent light fixtures and other sources can interfere with infrared (IR) signals used by motorized shades or blinds, but there are some ways to deal with it.  Obviously it is usually commercial installations that are affected by this, but that might include displays in your own store.  This is a relatively rare predicament, but it does happen occasionally.  This phenomenon isn't documented in any reference materials or installation guides, so make a note of it so you're ready when you run into it.

Interference — It's Not Just A Penalty In Football!
For remote control operated blinds or shades and other electronic devices, fluorescent interference may manifest itself in a variety of ways.  There may be severe problems like a total loss of remote control operation, random operation, limited operation, a lockout of manual operation, or it may just be a reduced operating range.  Whatever it is, there are some ways to address it. You don't have to live with a display blind or shade that doesn't operate properly and your customers can have full operation even in commercial facilities, but it may mean taking some extraordinary, though not particularly difficult steps. 

Not Too Bright...
Actually, it isn't the light, nor the intensity of the light that causes trouble.  In fact, most fluorescent lighting is not all that intense. Instead, the source of the interference is actually the ballast, a transformer that controls the current to the fluorescent lamp.  The ballast actually transmits a signal that can be within the range of remote controls used to operate blinds, shades, televisions, VCR's and other common electronic devices.  Without getting too deeply into the science of it, IR remote controls in the United States typically operate from 33 to 40 kHz and at about 56 kHz. Fluorescent lamps with ballast frequencies in the range of 18 to 40 kHz can interfere with IR remote controls.  Most ballasts aren't tested to find exact operating frequencies, and each one may operate at a different frequency.  This explains why there is sometimes interference and sometimes not from similar lighting fixtures.  Simply changing the ballast nearest to the shade with another equivalent ballast MAY end the problem, but you really can't be sure.  There are ballasts available that are designed to operate at lower frequencies.  These are the grade of ballasts that are used in hospitals or referred to as high-efficiency, electromagnetic ballasts.  They are more expensive than standard ballasts, but changing to this grade of ballast should prevent interference.  In commercial buildings, ballasts are changed quite frequently, so it really should not be that difficult to accomplish.

Other Solutions
Here are some other possible solutions you may want to try before changing the ballast:  

• If you are working with a store display, simply repositioning the display away from the nearest fluorescent light may help.  Of course, in most stores there are numerous fluorescent fixtures, so you may have to test a few locations.

• For PowerRise® shades and shadings, use a satellite eye to move the receiver out of the way by lowering it away from the light fixture and recessing it if possible.  The satellite eye can also be positioned to point away from the light.  Try to get away from a direct line of "sight" between the receiver eye and the light fixture.

• Change channels on the blind or shade.  Sometimes the interference will be specific to a channel.  By changing channels the problem may go away.  Some products are easier than others to change channels on.  Silhouette® PowerRise and Motorized Permalign™ vertical blinds can change and be returned to their original state.  Duette® PowerRise can be changed, but would require a new circuit card to change it back.  Luminette with PowerGlide uses both channels for every unit.  The hardwire motorization system used for Duette, Silhouette and Vignette® has up to 12 channels and it's relatively easy to reassign a channel number to any shade in the group.

• Turn off the lights before operating the blind or shade.  This would not be acceptable in a store environment, but in some home and commercial situations, such as media rooms it is perfectly practical.

• If there is no function at all, you may want to make sure that the remote control transmitter is working properly.  Here's a quick way to test the remote control transmitter.  While you can't see an IR signal with the naked eye, you can catch it on video.  Point a camcorder and tape someone pressing the buttons on the transmitter.  When you play back the tape, you will actually be able to see the signal emitting from the remote.

Other Sources of Interference
There are other items that can cause interference with IR signals

• Neon light, which is found frequently in restaurants or bars, and even in some homes will interfere, but not for the same reasons.  The only solution for neon interference is to turn off the neon light before operating the blinds or shades.  

• Electronic equipment.  There are other electronic devices that transmit IR signals, including universal power supplies for computers and anything with a large transformer type of plug.  

• Wireless Anything - including computer mouse, wireless headphones, speakers, microphones, etc.

• Other IR devices.  Signals from other devices that use remote controls can sometimes interfere.   

Watch Out For It — In Advance
The age of motorized shades has arrived, but it is also an age in which we are surrounded by other electronic devices that can interfere.  If you are working with customers for whom these issues may arise, discuss the possibilities in advance.  It doesn't hurt to bring a sample of the system you are intending to install.  Testing it in the room may help, but unless you can simulate the exact installation environment, it won't necessarily predict a problem.  Be prepared to deal with it and make sure your customer is prepared, too.  It will actually inspire more confidence in you to get the job done correctly.  Think of it as running interference for your customer.