Repair and replacement · Rolling Shutter Guide
Can I convert a manual rolling shutter to motorized?
In many cases, yes, but as a service rather than a kit: Roll-A-Shield does not sell a motorize-later kit. A conversion normally replaces the axle with a larger one that has a tubular motor inside, sized by curtain weight, and adds power: a wired or radio motor needs a 120 V source within 3 ft, while solar needs no wiring.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield does not sell motor-less shutters or a kit to motorize later; converting a manual shutter is booked as a service job. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's strap, crank and wand shutters are built on a 40 mm axle (60 mm for 63 mm single-wall); motorized shutters use a 60 or 70 mm axle with the motor inside. Roll-A-Shield data
- A motor is chosen by curtain weight, not square feet: weight in lb = width in x height in x the slat's sizing weight per sq ft / 144. Roll-A-Shield data
- A motor needs width: 22 in clear is the hard floor, and about 28 in overall is typical. Roll-A-Shield data
- For a wired or radio motor, the power source must be within 3 ft of the shutter. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Pull-strap, crank and wand rolling shutters, Roll-A-Shield's or another maker's, converted to a Gaposa or Somfy tubular motor (wired, radio, manual override or solar).
Many strap and crank shutters can be motorized. The short version: it is a service job, not a bolt-on part, because the motor lives inside the axle that the curtain rolls onto.
Does Roll-A-Shield sell a kit to motorize a manual shutter later?
No. Roll-A-Shield does not sell motor-less shutters or a "motorize later" kit; converting a manual shutter is done as a service. If you are ordering now and think you will want a motor, it is simpler to choose one with the shutter than to convert it afterwards.
What changes when a manual shutter is converted?
The axle, and the power. On most rolling shutters a tubular motor sits inside the axle tube and turns it from one end. On Roll-A-Shield shutters, strap, crank and wand units are built on a 40 mm axle (60 mm for 63 mm single-wall), while motorized units use a 60 or 70 mm axle with the motor inside, so a conversion normally means a new axle carrying the motor, plus the motor's mounting hardware at the end cap.
| What | Manual shutter | After conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Axle (Roll-A-Shield builds) | 40 mm; 60 mm on 63 mm single-wall | 60 or 70 mm with the motor inside |
| How it is chosen | Curtain weight up to about 50 lb for strap and crank | Motor sized by curtain weight |
| Power | None | 120 V AC within 3 ft for wired or radio; none for solar |
| Controls | Strap, crank or wand | Wall switch, remote, keypad or app |
Whether the existing box and rails can be reused depends on the shutter, which is why a conversion starts with the measurements and a photo (see the last section).
Which kind of motor can a manual shutter get?
Any of the motor types Roll-A-Shield fits on new shutters. See Wired, radio, override, solar or battery: motor types compared for the full comparison.
| Motor type | Power | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Wired (switch) | 120 V AC, source within 3 ft | Runs from a wall switch or key switch |
| Radio (remote) | 120 V AC, source within 3 ft | Remote, keypad, and phone control through a bridge |
| Manual override | 120 V AC | Adds a hand crank for power cuts; see What is a manual override? |
| Solar | 12 V DC from a panel and battery | No wiring to the house |
How big is the motor, and how is it chosen?
By curtain weight, not by square feet. Weight in lb = width in x height in x the slat's sizing weight per sq ft / 144. For example, a 72 x 84 in shutter in 38 mm insulated slat, at 0.92 lb per sq ft, weighs about 39 lb. Roll-A-Shield picks the smallest motor whose lift rating covers that weight with a margin. See What size motor does my rolling shutter need? for the chart.
That weight is also why some owners convert: strap and crank shutters top out at about 50 lb of curtain, a pull strap at 24 sq ft and 120 in wide, and a crank strap at 64 sq ft. A shutter near those limits can be hard to lift by hand; see How big can a manual shutter be before it needs a motor?.
Which manual shutters cannot be converted?
- Narrow ones. A motor needs a minimum width: 22 in clear is the hard floor and about 28 in overall is typical. Near the floor only the smallest motor fits, and below it none does.
- Shutters whose box cannot be reached. A box that is framed in or covered needs a look before a conversion can be quoted.
- Any shutter, with a garage-door opener. Overhead-door motors are not compatible; a rolling shutter is driven by a tubular motor inside the axle.
Roll-A-Shield's service team works on rolling shutters of any make, so a shutter from another maker can be looked at for conversion too.
Who does the wiring?
A licensed electrician. Follow the motor maker's instructions: terminate in a listed junction box; do not run the motor cable through the wall. Mains wiring by a licensed electrician. Plan where the power comes from before the conversion: the source must be within 3 ft of the shutter for a wired or radio motor. See What power does a motorized shutter need?. A solar motor avoids the wiring altogether.
What do I need to get a conversion quoted?
- The width and height of the shutter, and whether it is surface or recessed mounted
- The slat type, if you know it (foam-filled or extruded)
- Which side the strap or crank is on, and where the nearest power is
- A photo of the shutter and the box
What next
Call (480) 921-0200 or request a quote. For typical prices, see How much do rolling shutters cost?. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team does conversions on site.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a garage-door opener on my rolling shutter?
No. An overhead-door motor is not compatible with a Roll-A-Shield rolling shutter; the motor that drives a rolling shutter is a tubular motor that sits inside the axle.
Can I buy a manual shutter now and add a motor later?
You can have a manual shutter converted later, but Roll-A-Shield does not sell a shutter prepared for a motor or a kit to add one, so a later conversion is a service job with a new axle. If a motor is likely, it is simplest to order it with the shutter.
Do I still need power at the shutter if I convert?
For a wired or radio motor, yes: a 120 V source within 3 ft, connected by a licensed electrician. A solar motor needs no wiring; its panel charges a battery that runs the motor.
My old battery switchboard (BOS) shutter has died. Can it be converted?
The BOS system is no longer made, so when it fails you may need to convert to a new battery or solar system. Call (480) 921-0200 with a photo.
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.