Motors and power · Rolling Shutter Guide
Which rolling shutter motors have obstacle detection?
Only some do. Gaposa Sense motors from 10 to 50 Nm, wired or radio, and Gaposa Autonomo solar motors stop and reverse when the closing curtain meets an obstacle. Manual-override motors, mechanical-limit motors, Gaposa's 80-120 Nm motors and Somfy RTS and LT motors do not. Check the model code on the motor label, not the part name.
Key facts
- Obstacle detection is on Gaposa Sense motors, 10-50 Nm (model codes XQ5E wired and XQ5EZ radio), and on Gaposa Autonomo solar motors. Roll-A-Shield data
- It is not on manual-override motors, mechanical-limit motors, Gaposa's 80-120 Nm motors (XQ6E/XQ6EZ series, even where a part name says Sense), or any Somfy RTS or LT motor. Roll-A-Shield data
- On a Gaposa Sense motor, obstacle detection works in the down direction and reverses the curtain; going up, the motor cuts off if the load exceeds its torque.
- "EZ" in a Gaposa model code means a built-in radio receiver. It is not a sign of obstacle detection: the XQ6EZ motors have EZ in the code and no obstacle detection.
- Adding a manual override to a Gaposa motor removes obstacle detection, so a shutter needs one or the other. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Gaposa and Somfy tubular motors on rolling shutters, including Roll-A-Shield shutters: Gaposa XQ5/XQ6 series and Autonomo solar motors; Somfy Altus RTS, LT50/LT60 wired and override motors.
What does obstacle detection do?
A motor with obstacle detection stops and backs the curtain off when it meets something on the way down, instead of pressing on until it reaches its limit. On Gaposa's Sense motors it works in the down direction with a reverse function; on the way up, the motor cuts off if the load goes over its torque. Gaposa calls the version on its Autonomo solar motors double-try obstacle detection.
A motor without it will not stop on its own when the curtain meets an obstruction. That is why Roll-A-Shield never tells an owner a shutter will stop on an obstruction until it knows the motor model.
Which motors have it?
Go by motor family, and confirm it from the model code on the motor label.
| Motor | Model code starts with | Obstacle detection |
|---|---|---|
| Gaposa Sense, wired, 10-50 Nm | XQ5E, then digits (e.g. XQ5E3016) | Yes |
| Gaposa Sense, built-in radio, 10-50 Nm | XQ5EZ (e.g. XQ5EZ3016) | Yes |
| Gaposa Autonomo solar | XQDC (motor), XQBPL (kit) | Yes; Gaposa lists it from 20 Nm |
| Gaposa mechanical-limit, 10-50 Nm and 80-120 Nm | XQ5P, XQ6P | No |
| Gaposa electronic, 80-120 Nm, wired or radio | XQ6E, XQ6EZ | No; overload cut-off only |
| Gaposa manual override, wired or radio | XQ5M, XQ5MZ, XQ6M, XQ6MZ | No |
| Somfy Altus RTS, LT wired and override motors | — | No |
In Gaposa's codes, Z means a built-in radio receiver, and the numbers after the series letters give the torque and speed, so XQ5EZ3016 is a 30 Nm Sense radio motor. "EZ" alone tells you nothing about obstacle detection: XQ6EZ motors have it in the code and do not have the feature.
How do I find the model code on my motor?
The code is printed on the motor's label, at the motor end inside the shutter box.
- Run the shutter fully down and switch off its breaker.
- Take off the box cover; on Roll-A-Shield shutters it is held by four screws.
- Read the label on the motor head at the motor end. The brand name is also printed there.
- Refit the cover before running the shutter.
If you cannot read the label, send a photo of it and call (480) 921-0200.
Why does it matter which motor I have?
It matters most where you cannot see the shutter as it closes.
- One button, several shutters. An "all down" button on a multi-channel remote, keypad or app closes shutters out of sight; a motor without obstacle detection will not stop for a planter or furniture left in the opening. See running several shutters from one remote.
- Override motors. An override gives up obstacle detection on Gaposa motors, so on an opening that needs both outage operation and obstacle detection, a solar motor does both. See manual override.
- Large shutters. Gaposa's 80-120 Nm motors, used on the heaviest curtains, do not have it.
Is obstacle detection a safety guarantee?
No. It is a motor feature that limits damage when the curtain meets something, not a substitute for watching the opening. Gaposa describes it on the down stroke only. Keep people, pets and objects clear while any shutter moves.
Safety: If a shutter has already come down on something, stop it, do not run it up, and read what to do when a shutter came down on an object before running it again.
Can it be switched off?
On a Gaposa Sense radio motor (XQ5EZ), yes, with a programming sequence on the remote. The motor jogs once to confirm it is off and twice to confirm it is back on. Roll-A-Shield recommends leaving it on; call (480) 921-0200 before changing it. Other Sense programming, such as pairing and limits, is on the Gaposa Sense motor page.
What next
To choose a motor with obstacle detection on a new shutter, say so when you request a quote. The motor page compares Gaposa and Somfy, and replacement motors are in the parts store. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield services rolling shutters of any brand.
Frequently asked questions
Do Somfy shutter motors have obstacle detection?
Not the ones on Roll-A-Shield shutters. The Somfy motors in its line are the Altus RTS radio motors, the LT wired motors and the override motors, and Somfy's specifications for these list no obstacle detection. Somfy's Maestria motor has an obstacle-detection setting, but it is not part of the current line.
My motor's part name says Sense. Does it have obstacle detection?
Not necessarily. Some of Roll-A-Shield's own part names for Gaposa 80-120 Nm motors say Sense, but those motors are Gaposa's XQ6E/XQ6EZ series, which have an overload cut-off and no obstacle detection. Go by the model code on the motor label.
Can obstacle detection be turned off?
On a Gaposa Sense radio motor (XQ5EZ), yes: a programming sequence on the remote switches it off (the motor jogs once to confirm) and the same sequence switches it back on (two jogs). Leave it on unless there is a reason; call (480) 921-0200 before changing it.
Can I get obstacle detection and a manual override?
Not on the same motor. Override motors do not have obstacle detection. If the shutter must open in an outage and must also stop on an obstacle, a Gaposa solar motor does both, because it runs on its own battery.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.