Motors and power · Rolling Shutter Guide
What power does a motorized rolling shutter need?
A wired or remote-control shutter motor runs on 120 V AC, 60 Hz household power. The 10-50 Nm sizes draw about 0.7 to 2.1 A and can usually share an existing circuit; 60-120 Nm motors draw up to 5.5 A. Solar and battery motors need no house wiring. Mains connections are for a licensed electrician.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield's wired and remote motors run on 120 V AC, 60 Hz and can be wired into existing circuits; in the 10-50 Nm sizes the makers list 0.7 to 2.1 A. Roll-A-Shield data
- The motor cord is 18 ft as standard; up to 25 ft is available on some motor types, fitted at the factory, so the power location has to be known when the shutter is ordered. Roll-A-Shield data
- Large motors draw more: Gaposa lists 3.1 to 5.5 A for its 80-120 Nm motors, and Somfy lists 2.5 A for its 60 Nm motor.
- Follow the motor maker's rule: terminate the motor cable in a listed junction box and do not run the motor cable through the wall. Mains wiring is for a licensed electrician. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Gaposa and Somfy 120 V AC tubular motors (wall-switch, remote-control and manual-override versions) on rolling shutters; solar (Gaposa Autonomo) and battery (OZRoll) motors for comparison.
What voltage and current does a shutter motor use?
Wired and remote-control shutter motors run on standard household power: 120 V AC, 60 Hz. Roll-A-Shield's 2024 install manuals quote 0.7 to 1.8 A and say the motors can be wired into existing circuits with no new circuit required. The motor makers' own figures run slightly higher at the top of the 10-50 Nm range (2.1 A for the Somfy 50 Nm) and rise with size:
| Motor | Torque | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Gaposa 10 Nm (XQ5 series) | 10 Nm | 0.9 A |
| Gaposa 20 Nm (XQ5 series) | 20 Nm | 1.1 A |
| Gaposa 30 Nm (XQ5 series) | 30 Nm | 1.6 A |
| Gaposa 40 and 50 Nm (XQ5 series) | 40-50 Nm | 1.8 A |
| Somfy LT50 wired, 10-20 Nm | 10-20 Nm | 0.7-1.1 A |
| Somfy LT50 wired or radio, 30-50 Nm | 30-50 Nm | 1.5-2.1 A |
| Somfy 60 Nm | 60 Nm | 2.5 A |
| Gaposa 80 and 120 Nm (XQ6 series) | 80-120 Nm | 3.1-3.6 A |
| Gaposa 100 Nm (XQ6 series) | 100 Nm | 5.5 A |
If a motor is run continuously, its thermal protection stops it until it has cooled, which takes about 15 minutes. For a whole-house install, or for the large motors, have your electrician check the circuit. The full spec list by model is on the motor specs page.
Is the motor plugged in or hardwired?
Either way, the permanent connection is made the motor maker's way. 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.
Roll-A-Shield ships motorized shutters with a power plug in the box but not fitted to the cord, so the installer can cut the cord to the length the opening needs. A temporary plug is also how the factory and installers bench-test a motor before it is wired in; see testing a motor with a temporary plug. Whether exposed cord or conduit is needed at your opening depends on local code and the installer.
Stop: Roll-A-Shield's 2024 install manuals and videos show the motor cord fed through the wall to an indoor outlet. Somfy's instructions say not to use the motor cable to penetrate a building wall and to connect it in a listed junction box, and Roll-A-Shield's guide follows the motor maker.
How long is the cord, and how far can the power be?
The cord is 18 ft as standard, and up to 25 ft on some motor types. A longer cord is fitted before the shutter is built, so it has to be on the order; it cannot be added later by splicing.
Two things decide whether the cord reaches:
- The control side. The cord leaves the box on the motor side, which is set for each shutter when it is ordered, so say which side your power is on. See which side the motor should be on.
- The junction box. The cord ends at a listed junction box; from there to the panel is house wiring.
If the power is farther away than the cord, the extra run is ordinary building wiring from the junction box, done by an electrician. Ask before ordering if you are unsure the cord will reach; call (480) 921-0200.
Tip: Do not shorten a remote-control motor's cord too far. The radio antenna is in the cord: keep at least 12 in on Somfy RTS motors and 18 in on SIMU Hz motors.
What about a wall switch?
A wall-switch motor has a four-conductor cable: white neutral, green ground, and red and black for the two directions. Connecting it to its switch is work for a licensed electrician; call (480) 921-0200 if you want us to walk them through it.
What do solar and battery shutters need?
No house wiring at the shutter.
- Solar. The Gaposa solar motor runs on 12 V DC from a battery in the panel and plugs into the panel with a weatherproof connector, with no connection to the electrical line. See how solar shutters work.
- Battery (OZRoll). The motor is wired to a wall plate, and the plate is mounted within reach of an ordinary outlet, where a plug-in adapter charges the controller.
When should I stop and call an electrician?
Any connection to house power is work for a licensed electrician.
Safety: Always switch off the power at the breaker before working on any motor wiring. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Stop and call if the breaker trips when the shutter runs or the motor hums but does not turn. See no power to the motor and why a shutter won't go up or down.
What next
Replacement motors, switches and remotes are in the parts store, and the motor page compares Gaposa and Somfy. For a new shutter, tell us where the power is when you request a quote, or call (480) 921-0200. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield services rolling shutters of any brand.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new circuit for a motorized shutter?
Usually not. Roll-A-Shield's install manuals say its motors can be wired into existing circuits with no new circuit required. For a whole-house install or the large 60-120 Nm motors, which draw more current, have your electrician check the circuit.
Can I extend the motor cord myself?
No. Gaposa says a motor's cable may only be replaced with a cable of the same type from the motor maker; it is not spliced longer. Roll-A-Shield supplies up to 25 ft at the factory. Beyond the cord, the run from the junction box is ordinary house wiring for an electrician.
How many wires does the motor have?
A wall-switch motor has four: white neutral, green ground, and red and black for the two directions. A remote-control motor has three: black hot, white neutral and green ground.
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.