Programming and controls · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I hard-reset a solar rolling shutter motor?
Unscrew the motor cord from the solar panel at its threaded connector and leave it apart a full 60 seconds. Reconnect with the two arrows facing each other. Within 8 seconds of power returning, hold the left back (SYNC) button and STOP on any Gaposa remote until the motor jogs. Every remote is now erased, so pair one again.
Key facts
- The panel must stay disconnected for a full 60 seconds; that is what cuts power to a solar motor, which has no connection to the building's wiring. Roll-A-Shield data
- Gaposa's manual: within 8 seconds of switching the power back on, hold SYNC and STOP on any Gaposa transmitter until the motor jogs; the motor's transmitter memory is then empty.
- Any Gaposa remote works for the reset, the old one or a new one, and the same remote is paired again straight afterwards. Roll-A-Shield data
- Solar is a Gaposa-only option on Roll-A-Shield shutters, built as 30 Nm and 50 Nm motor-and-panel kits. Roll-A-Shield data
- Gaposa rates its solar motors for about 6 minutes of running at a time, and states about 60 open-close cycles from a full charge.
Applies to: Gaposa Autonomo solar shutter motors with a Gaposa solar panel and Gaposa remote, including Roll-A-Shield solar shutters. Mains-powered Gaposa motors and OZRoll battery motors reset differently; see the links below.
When does a solar motor need a hard reset?
Do a hard reset when the motor will not answer its remote even though the panel is charged, when the remote is lost and you have a new one, or when the motor answers a remote it should not. The reset erases every paired remote, so it is a fresh start for the programming.
Rule out charge first. A solar motor runs from the battery in its panel, and the panel charges from daylight; artificial light will not charge it. A shutter that goes part way and stops, or only works again after some sunny days, is short of charge, and a reset will not fix that. See a solar shutter that stops halfway or is dead and how to test the panel and battery with a multimeter.
How do I do the hard reset?
Cut the motor's power by separating it from the panel, then clear it with the remote.
Tools: any Gaposa remote, either the one you had or a new one, in your hand before you reconnect; a timer; a ladder if the connector sits on top of the box.
- Find the connector where the motor cord meets the panel cord. It is usually lying on top of the shutter box, but it can be inside the end cap; every installation is a little different.
- Unscrew the threaded collar and pull the two halves apart.
- Leave it disconnected for a full 60 seconds; use a timer.
- Reconnect. The connector is keyed and carries two arrows: line them up so they face each other, push the halves together, and screw the collar back on tight.
- Within 8 seconds of power returning, hold the left programming (SYNC) button on the back of the remote and the STOP button together until the motor jogs. The motor now has no remotes paired.
Gaposa's manual asks only for that one jog. In Roll-A-Shield's video the buttons are held on until a second jog about 10 seconds later, and the reset works that way too.
On Roll-A-Shield's Gaposa handhelds the left back button is the pairing (SYNC) button and the right one sets limits; Gaposa notes the two buttons sit in different places on some transmitter models. On a multi-channel remote, select only this shutter's channel first.
Safety: If the connector is on top of the box, work from a stable ladder and keep your hands off the curtain while the motor is being tested. The connector is keyed, so line up the arrows rather than forcing it.
How do I pair the remote again?
Use the same left back button, then tell the motor which way is which.
- Hold the left back (SYNC) button alone until the motor starts moving, and note which way it turns.
- Release the button; the motor stops.
- Within 5 seconds, press UP if the motor turned upward or DOWN if it turned downward. The remote is paired and the direction is set.
- Run the shutter up and down to test it. If UP and DOWN come out reversed, hold SYNC until the motor moves and press STOP; it jogs and the direction is reversed.
Add any other remotes, wall remotes or key fobs one at a time from this one; see adding a Gaposa remote.
Does the reset change the limits?
No source says the limits are kept. Roll-A-Shield's video says only that every remote is erased, and Gaposa's manual describes its reset as deleting all the transmitters, channels or sensors. After re-pairing, run the shutter all the way up and down and check where it stops. If a stopping point is wrong, adjust that limit with the right back button; see adjusting a Gaposa limit.
Gaposa's Autonomo solar motors have obstacle detection, but still watch the curtain on the first full run after a reset.
Why is this different from a Gaposa reset at the breaker?
Because there is no breaker. A solar motor has no connection to the building's electricity, so "cutting power" means separating the motor from the panel. Gaposa's manual just says to switch the power off and on again; Roll-A-Shield's video leaves the panel disconnected a full 60 seconds, and that is the timing on this page.
If a paired remote still works the motor, Gaposa's manual gives a reset with no disconnect at all: hold SYNC and STOP for at least 15 seconds, until the motor jogs and then jogs again 5 seconds later. It has not worked unless both jogs happen. Mains-powered Gaposa motors have three reset methods of their own; see how to reset a Gaposa motor.
What if it still is not working?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No jog at all when you hold the buttons | Connector not fully seated, or the battery is flat | Check the arrows and collar; let the panel charge in direct sun, then retry |
| No jog after reconnecting | More than 8 seconds passed before you pressed the buttons | Disconnect for 60 seconds again, have the remote in hand, and press within 8 seconds |
| Paired, but runs the wrong way | Wrong direction pressed while pairing | Hold SYNC until the motor moves, then press STOP; it jogs and the direction is reversed |
| Moves only while a button is held | Motor left in limit-setting mode | Set the top and bottom with STOP until each jogs |
| Stops after a few runs, recovers later | Short duty or low charge | Gaposa rates the motor for about 6 minutes of running; rest it and check the charge |
| Clicks but does not move | Battery, panel or motor fault | Test the panel and battery before replacing anything; see the multimeter page |
Roll-A-Shield quotes about 60 open-close cycles from a full charge, and Gaposa states an operating range of -10 to +40 degrees C. If the motor still will not respond after a clean reset and a full charge, call (480) 921-0200.
Watch it done
How to Reset a Solar-Powered Rolling Shutter Motor
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Does the hard reset erase the limits?
The video says only that every remote is erased, and Gaposa's manual describes its reset as deleting transmitters, channels and sensors. Neither says the limits survive, so run the shutter fully up and down after re-pairing and adjust a limit if it stops in the wrong place.
Can I reset a solar motor at the breaker?
No. A solar motor runs from the battery in its panel and has no connection to the building's wiring, so the only way to cut its power is to separate the motor cord from the panel.
Why does my solar shutter only move while I hold the button?
On a Gaposa motor, running only while a button is held is how it behaves in limit-setting mode. Finish the limit setting: run to the top and press STOP until it jogs, then to the bottom and press STOP again, then test a full cycle. If it keeps happening, call (480) 921-0200.
Is the solar battery covered by the warranty?
The solar battery falls under the 2-year electronics term. Full terms are on the warranty page.
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.