Repair and replacement · Rolling Shutter Guide
Can a new motor go in my old rolling shutter?
Usually yes. The box, guide rails and curtain can often stay, and only the tubular motor inside the roll tube is changed. The new motor must match the control type (wall switch or radio), lift the curtain's weight and fit the tube with the right crown and drive. Very old shutters with round axles may need a new axle.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield's default is to replace only the failed part, such as the motor, rather than the whole shutter. Roll-A-Shield data
- On the 120 V Gaposa and Somfy motors Roll-A-Shield fits, a wall-switch motor has a 4-conductor cable and a radio motor a 3-conductor cable.
- Choose the motor 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
- Very old Roll-A-Shield shutters have round axles, and current axle adapters do not fit them, so a new motor there usually means a new axle too. Roll-A-Shield data
- A replacement motor supplied by Roll-A-Shield gets its own 5-year warranty term. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Motorized rolling shutters with a 120 V AC tubular motor inside the roll tube (Gaposa, Somfy and similar), including older Roll-A-Shield and other-brand units. Solar and OZRoll battery motors use different hardware.
On a motorized rolling shutter the motor is a tube-shaped motor that slides inside the roll tube (the axle), so a new motor does not mean a new shutter. Roll-A-Shield's default, on its own shutters, is to replace only the failed part, and the box can often be reused as long as the tube is compatible. Before you buy a motor, make sure the old one has really failed; Why won't my rolling shutter go up or down? runs through the cheaper causes.
What has to match between the old motor and the new one?
Five things decide whether a motor will go in and work.
| What | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Control type | A wall-switch motor and a radio motor are connected differently and use different controls | Count the conductors in the motor cable (below) |
| Lift | Too small a motor will not lift the curtain | Work out the curtain weight (below) |
| Tube | The motor drives the tube through a crown and drive sized for that tube | Measure the tube and note its shape |
| Brand | Crowns, drives and remotes are brand-specific | Read the motor label |
| Width | A motor needs room inside the box | Measure the clear width of the opening |
Override (CMO) motors, solar motors and OZRoll battery motors are separate motor types with their own parts, so treat those as a separate conversation.
How do I tell a switch motor from a radio motor?
By the cable. On the 120 V AC Gaposa and Somfy motors Roll-A-Shield fits, a wall-switch motor has a 4-conductor cable: white neutral, green ground, and red and black for up and down. A radio (remote) motor has a 3-conductor cable: white neutral, black hot and green ground. The same holds for the manual-override versions of both brands. Solar and OZRoll battery motors are low-voltage and come with a plug or a two-wire red and black lead instead.
Replace like with like. Swapping a switch motor for a radio one, or the reverse, changes the controls and the connection, not just the motor.
What size motor do I need?
Size it by the weight of the curtain, not by square feet. Roll-A-Shield's formula is weight_lb = width_in x height_in x psf / 144, where psf is the slat's sizing weight: 0.92 lb per sq ft for 38 mm insulated slat, 1.11 for 55 mm insulated and 1.14 for 63 mm single-wall. The square-foot ranges in some Somfy motor part names are model labels, not the selection rule. The capacity table and a worked example are on What size motor does my rolling shutter need?
Will a new motor fit my tube?
On Roll-A-Shield shutters built today, yes: motorized units use a 60 mm or 70 mm octagonal tube, and the motor drives it through a crown and a drive made for that tube size. A like-for-like motor takes your old crown and drive; a different size or brand needs the crown and drive that match both the new motor and your tube.
Older shutters are where it gets harder:
- Round axles. Very old Roll-A-Shield shutters have round axles, and current axle adapters do not fit them. A new motor there usually means a new axle as well, although the box can often be reused.
- Manual shutters. A strap or crank shutter has no motor in its tube, and usually a smaller tube, so motorizing it is a conversion, not a motor swap: see Converting a manual shutter to motorized.
- Narrow openings. A Gaposa or Somfy tubular motor needs at least 22 in of clear width.
- Recessed (inside-mount) units. These use different axle-end parts, so if the tube itself has to change, the end-cap parts usually change with it.
- Old battery switchboards. The older battery-operated switchboard systems are no longer made; if one fails, the shutter may need converting to a current battery or solar system.
Can I change brands?
You can, but it takes more than the motor. A Gaposa and a Somfy motor need different crowns and drives for the same tube, and each brand's remotes work only with its own motors, so a brand change also means new remotes. A wall-switch motor of the other brand is also connected to its own maker's diagram, which differs. Roll-A-Shield normally replaces like with like; call before changing brands. Overhead-door or garage-door motors are not compatible with a rolling shutter at all.
What should I send to get the right motor?
Send photos and a few measurements, and the team can match the parts:
- the label on the old motor (brand, model, Nm)
- the shutter box from the front and from the motor end, and its height, width and depth
- the guide-rail thickness
- the tube, so its size and shape can be seen
- how you control it now: wall switch, remote, or both
Who fits and connects it?
The swap itself is mechanical, and Roll-A-Shield sends a motor-change video so owners can judge whether they are comfortable doing it. The steps are on How do I replace a rolling shutter motor? The motor runs on 120 V AC. 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.
Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. A replacement motor supplied by Roll-A-Shield gets its own 5-year term.
What next
Gaposa radio motors are in the Roll-A-Shield parts store; Somfy motors, crowns and drives are ordered by phone at (480) 921-0200. For motor options, see rolling shutter motors; for costs, how much rolling shutters cost. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services rolling shutters of any make.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to replace the whole shutter if the motor dies?
Usually not. Roll-A-Shield's default is to replace only the failed part, and the box can often be reused if the tube is compatible. A whole new unit makes sense when the shutter is in poor condition overall.
Can I put a Gaposa motor where a Somfy was, or the other way round?
It takes more than the motor: the new brand's crown and drive for your tube, and new remotes, because each brand's remotes work only with its own motors. Roll-A-Shield normally replaces like with like, so call (480) 921-0200 before changing brands.
Can I use a garage-door or overhead-door opener instead?
No. Overhead-door motors are not compatible with rolling shutters; a rolling shutter uses a tubular motor that sits inside its roll tube.
Does the new motor need programming?
Yes. Once it is fitted, the new motor's up and down limits are set, and a radio motor is also paired with its remote.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Gaposa radio motors are in the Roll-A-Shield parts store. For a Somfy motor, a crown and drive, or help matching a motor to an older shutter, call (480) 921-0200 with photos of the motor label and the box. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.