Double-Volume Windows: Motorised Ripplefold Curtain or Roller Blind?
For a tall or double-volume window, a motorised Ripplefold curtain suits wide glass and soft folds, and a motorised Roller Blind suits a flat shade that can stop part-way. Check the limits first: Silent Gliss lists the SG 4980 electric roller blind to a 12 m drop, and the SG 5600 electric curtain track to a 25 m run or a 65 kg curtain, each a separate maximum.
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Key takeaways
- A motorised Roller Blind drops up to 12 m on the Silent Gliss SG 4980 or 9 m on the SG 4985, though the full 12 m falls outside Silent Gliss's recommended drop of at most three times the width.
- For a motorised Ripplefold curtain, Silent Gliss lists no maximum drop, only width and weight: the SG 5600 track runs up to 25 m, and its 65 kg maximum is charted on a straight 10 m run (40 kg at 25 m).
- Hung on hangers below a high ceiling, an SG 5100 or SG 5600 track loses 30% of its weight limit.
- On a double-volume window the track, motor or roller tube sits at ceiling height: plan access and the power point before the ceiling is finished.
How tall can a motorised Ripplefold curtain or Roller Blind go?
For a motorised Roller Blind, Silent Gliss lists a maximum drop for each electric roller blind; for a motorised Ripplefold curtain, it lists a maximum width and, separately, a maximum weight for each electric track, and no maximum drop. Blind drops run from 4 m (SG 4960) to 12 m (SG 4980); the SG 5600 track runs up to 25 m, and its heaviest listed curtain is 65 kg.
| Silent Gliss system | Type | Max width | Max drop | Max weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG 5100 | Electric curtain track (Wave) | 9 m | Not listed | 30 kg |
| SG 5600 | Electric curtain track (Wave) | 25 m | Not listed | 65 kg |
| SG 4960 | Electric roller blind | 2.4 m | 4 m | 5.5 kg |
| SG 4970 | Electric roller blind | 3.4 m | 5 m | 10 kg |
| SG 4985 | Electric roller blind | 5 m | 9 m | 23 kg |
| SG 4980 | Electric roller blind | 4 m | 12 m | 23 kg |
| SG 4955 | Battery roller blind | 2.4 m | 3 m | 4 kg |
Figures from Promolink's electric curtain track, electric roller blind and battery roller blind pages. Read each as a separate maximum, not one combined capacity.
The Silent Gliss roller blind catalogue gives the two largest blinds, the SG 4980 and SG 4985, a maximum surface area of 36 m² and a recommended width / height ratio of max. 1:3, drawn as a drop of no more than three times the width. So a 6 m drop wants a blind at least 2 m wide, and the SG 4980's 12 m drop is charted only up to 3 m wide, short of the 4 m the ratio asks for. Of the roller blinds in the table, only these two drop more than 5 m.
How heavy can a tall curtain or blind be?
On a tall window the weight limit matters as much as the size, because a long drop means a lot of fabric. Silent Gliss counts the whole load: for its tracks the maximum kg "relates to fabric incl. accessories", and for its roller blinds that includes the bottom bar. A motorised roller blind carries up to 23 kg; a track's listed 30 kg (SG 5100) or 65 kg (SG 5600) is a best case.
The weight tables in the Silent Gliss electric curtain track catalogue show why. On a straight SG 5600 track with Wave rollers, the limit reaches 65 kg on a 10 m run but is 40 kg at 25 m; with Wave gliders the table stops at 10 m and tops out at 25 kg. A track with bends can carry less again. So ask for the made-up curtain's weight, lining and Silent Gliss's 50 g/m lead weight included, before the track is chosen. Our guide to wave and pinch pleat curtains explains how much fabric a wave curtain needs.
Hangers lower it again: for a track hung below a high ceiling, the same catalogue says of both the SG 5100 and SG 5600: "Curtain weight reduces by 30%".
How does the fabric hang over a long drop?
A motorised Ripplefold curtain hangs in even S-shaped folds from top to bottom, while a motorised Roller Blind hangs as one flat panel from its roller tube, with a bottom bar. Ripplefold is the heading Silent Gliss calls Wave; Promolink's Wave Curtain page says it is also known as S Fold or Ripple Fold. Silent Gliss explains what keeps the folds even:
A unique glider-cord inside the track restricts the extension of the fabric so that when opened, the curtains stack back neatly, and when closed the fabric hangs in a smooth, continuous wave.
Silent Gliss, Wave curtains
For a motorised roller blind on a long drop, Silent Gliss fits the SG 4980 and SG 4985 with stainless steel brackets, adjustable for vertical alignment of the fabric, and offers optional side guide wires.
What should you plan for access and power on a double-volume window?
Plan the access before you choose: on a double-volume window the motor, the track or the roller tube sits at ceiling height, out of reach without a ladder or scaffold. Silent Gliss writes that its systems are for "installation by qualified fitter only", and that electrical installations must follow its wiring diagrams and conform to local regulations. It pays to place the power point before the ceiling is finished.
A motorised Ripplefold curtain and a motorised roller blind differ at floor level. The curtain hangs to just above the floor (Silent Gliss recommends a 20 mm gap between floor and fabric), so its lower edge stays within reach, and Silent Gliss gives the SG 5100, and the SG 5600 on runs up to 12 m, a manual override in the event of power failure. A raised roller blind sits rolled onto its tube at the top.
How do a curtain and a blind compare on heat and glare from tall glass?
On heat, Silent Gliss points to the fabric: it advises a low solar transmission (Ts) and a high solar reflectance (Rs), "effectively mitigating overheating". It adds that metallised fabrics have an aluminium backing which "significantly increases heat reflection" (Silent Gliss, heat, light and glare).
A curtain and a blind differ most in the view by day. Promolink's electric roller blind page lists programmable intermediate stops on Silent Gliss motorised roller blinds, so a blind can shade the top of the glass and leave the lower part clear, and a screen fabric gives "a degree of privacy whilst maintaining an external view" (Silent Gliss screens). A drawn Ripplefold curtain covers the glass from top to bottom, so the view it leaves depends on its fabric. Our guide to keeping a hot room cool covers the fabrics in more detail.
How do you control a curtain or blind you cannot reach?
From the floor: a wall switch, a handset or a timer runs a motorised Ripplefold curtain or a motorised Roller Blind, so nobody has to reach the window. Silent Gliss writes that its electric tracks are ideal for hard-to-reach, large or heavy curtains.
For several tall windows on one wall, Silent Gliss lists a 6+1 channel handset for its tracks and an 8-channel wall switch among the SG 4980 parts. Our guide to motorised curtains in Malaysia compares the remote, switch, app and timer.
Which suits a double-volume living room or a tall stairwell window?
Choose a motorised Ripplefold curtain for a wide double-volume living room in a bungalow or semi-D, where you want soft folds and a curtain that hangs within reach, and a motorised Roller Blind for a tall window at least a third as wide as its drop, where a flat shade, a view by day and part-way stops matter more. A narrow stairwell window can fall outside that ratio, so measure it first.
| What matters | Ripplefold curtain motorised | Roller Blind motorised |
|---|---|---|
| Tallest drop | Not listed; Silent Gliss gives a width and a weight | Up to 12 m (SG 4980, charted up to 3 m wide, outside the 1:3 ratio) or 9 m (SG 4985) |
| Widest single run | Up to 25 m on one SG 5600 track (40 kg on a straight 25 m run) | Up to 5 m per blind (SG 4985) |
| By day | Covers the full height when drawn, or stacks to the side | Can stop part-way; a screen fabric keeps a view |
| Watch out for | Hangers cut the weight limit by 30% | The 36 m² area limit and the 1:3 ratio |
Where can you get motorised Ripplefold curtains and Roller Blinds in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor?
Promolink Actions Sdn. Bhd. has made curtains, blinds and electric curtain systems to measure in Malaysia since 1998, from an office in Petaling Jaya and a showroom in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. It offers free consultation, measurement and installation, and backs its work with warranty and after-sales care. Promolink describes itself as "the sole gateway to Silent Gliss in Malaysia".
The electric curtain system is easy to use and modern, I like it very much.
Nurul Ain Nabila, a customer review on promolink.com.my
Short answers on tracks, motors and fabrics are on the Promolink FAQ, and directions to the office and showroom are on the Contact Us page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a motorised roller blind cover a 6 m tall window?
Yes, on the SG 4985 (up to 9 m) or SG 4980 (up to 12 m), the two largest Silent Gliss electric roller blinds; the SG 4970 stops at 5 m and the battery SG 4955 at 3 m. The SG 4985 and SG 4980 allow 36 m² of fabric, with a recommended width / height ratio of max. 1:3, so a 6 m drop wants a blind at least 2 m wide.
Is there a maximum drop for a motorised Ripplefold curtain?
Silent Gliss does not list one for its electric curtain tracks: it lists a maximum width and, separately, a maximum weight. The SG 5100 runs up to 9 m and the SG 5600 up to 25 m. Their listed 30 kg and 65 kg are best cases: the catalogue charts less on other run lengths and with Wave gliders, such as 40 kg on a straight 25 m SG 5600 run.
How wide can one motorised roller blind be before you need two?
Up to 5 m on the Silent Gliss SG 4985, the widest blind on the Promolink electric roller blind page. Its 36 m² fabric limit means the full 5 m width is charted only up to a 7 m drop. Glass wider than 5 m needs two or more blinds side by side, while one SG 5600 curtain track runs up to 25 m.
Can a motorised Ripplefold curtain track hang from hangers below a high ceiling?
Yes. Silent Gliss lists a suspended fitting for its SG 5100 and SG 5600 electric tracks, on the hanger SG 6105 or the V-hanger SG 6107, and says the curtain weight then reduces by 30%. Weigh the made-up curtain, with its lining and accessories, against that reduced limit for the length of the run before the track is chosen.
Ask Promolink to measure your tall window
WhatsApp Promolink a photo of the window with its rough width and height, and arrange a free consultation and measurement.
WhatsApp usCall 012-292 5582Sources
- Silent Gliss, Technical Catalogue Electric Curtain Track Systems (06/2026), on Promolink's website. https://www.promolink.com.my/images/uploads/category/39/pdf/SGGB_EL_EN-GB.pdf
- Silent Gliss, Technical Catalogue Roller Blind Systems (01/2026/V2). https://www.alltrade.co.uk/public/product/sggb-rb-en-gb.pdf
- Silent Gliss UK, Wave curtains. https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/engb/fabrics/fabric-expertise/wave-curtains/
- Silent Gliss UK, Heat, light and glare. https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/engb/fabrics/fabric-functionality/heat-light-and-glare/
- Silent Gliss UK, Screens. https://www.silentgliss.co.uk/engb/fabrics/the-collection-by-silent-gliss/screens/
- Promolink, Silent Gliss electric curtain track systems. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/electric-curtain-track-systems/
- Promolink, electric roller blind systems. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/electric/
- Promolink, battery roller blind systems. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/battery/
- Promolink, Silent Gliss motorised system. https://www.promolink.com.my/products/silent-gliss-motorised-system/
- Promolink, Wave Curtain (S Fold / Ripple Fold). https://www.promolink.com.my/products/wave-curtain/
- Promolink, About Us. https://www.promolink.com.my/about-us/
- Promolink, customer reviews on the home page. https://www.promolink.com.my/