Programming and controls · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I set the limits on a SIMU shutter motor and pair a remote?
On a SIMU Hz radio motor, press UP and DOWN together until it jogs, check the direction, run down to the lower limit, press STOP and UP together, stop just before fully open, press STOP and DOWN together, stop it, then hold STOP until it jogs. Finish by holding the transmitter's programming button until the shutter reacts.
Key facts
- SIMU's procedure sets the lower limit first, then the upper; Somfy's Telis procedure starts from the top.
- If a SIMU Hz motor cord is ever shortened, leave at least 18 inches: the radio antenna runs inside that part of the cord (Somfy RTS motors need 12 inches).
- SIMU's TSA+ 4-channel transmitter runs on the SIMU-Hz radio system at 433.42 MHz and takes one CR2430 3 V lithium cell, rated for about 2 years.
- Roll-A-Shield's current motor choices are Gaposa (standard), Somfy and OZRoll, so a SIMU motor usually means an older installation. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: SIMU Hz radio tubular motors in the T3.5 and T5 ranges with a SIMU transmitter, on older rolling shutters, including some Roll-A-Shield installations. Wired (switch-operated) SIMU motors are not covered.
Is my motor a SIMU?
Check the label on the motor head and the brand on the remote. SIMU's radio system is called SIMU-Hz and runs at 433.42 MHz. Auto-generated captions on shutter videos render the name as "SEMA".
Roll-A-Shield's current motor choices are Gaposa, which is the standard, Somfy and the OZRoll battery motor. SIMU motors turn up on older installations, ours and other companies'. The procedure on this page is SIMU's own, from the SIMU video manual Roll-A-Shield published on its channel.
What should I check before I start?
SIMU's video opens with the same cautions Somfy gives for its RTS motors.
- Power only one motor at a time when several motorized shutters are installed.
- If the motor cord has ever been shortened, at least 18 inches must remain, because the radio antenna is embedded in that part of the cord.
- Have the SIMU transmitter for this shutter, with a working battery, and a helper to watch the curtain.
Safety: SIMU's installation rules are to make a drip loop, follow local electrical codes, connect the motor to power in a listed junction box, and never use the motor cable to go through a building wall. Setting limits needs none of that; it is all done from the transmitter. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
How do I set the limits?
Start near the bottom: SIMU sets the lower limit first.
- Press UP and DOWN together until the motor jogs. A jog is a brief up-and-down movement; the motor is now in programming mode.
- Press UP. The shutter should go up. If it goes down, hold STOP for several seconds until the motor jogs; the direction is now reversed.
- Press DOWN to send the shutter to where you want the lower limit, then fine-tune with UP or DOWN.
- Press STOP and UP together. The shutter rises.
- Press STOP just before the shutter is fully open, then fine-tune the top position with UP or DOWN.
- Press STOP and DOWN together. The shutter lowers; stop it on the way down.
- Hold STOP for several seconds until the motor jogs. The upper and lower limits are set.
- Hold the programming button on the transmitter until the shutter reacts. The transmitter is now programmed to the shutter.
- Run a full cycle and check both stopping points.
On a Roll-A-Shield shutter the right stopping points are: at the top, the bottom slat still inside the guide rails; at the bottom, the whole roll off the axle and the hanging straps pushing the top slat toward the box.
How is that different from a Somfy RTS motor?
The pattern is close to Somfy's, but three details differ.
| SIMU Hz radio motor | Somfy Altus RTS with a Telis | |
|---|---|---|
| Limit set first | Lower | Upper |
| Confirm button | STOP | MY |
| Minimum cord left if shortened | 18 in | 12 in |
| Finish | Hold the programming button until the shutter reacts | Press the programming button; the motor jogs |
Somfy's full sequence is on the Somfy limits page.
How do I add another SIMU transmitter?
SIMU's instructions for its TSA+ 4-channel transmitter add it from a transmitter that already works.
- On the transmitter that currently controls the motor, select the right channel and hold its programming (PROG) button until the motor gives a short up-and-down bounce.
- Press the 2nd and 4th buttons together, as SIMU's illustration shows. The LED blinks.
- Press the button on the TSA+ that you want to use for this shutter. The motor bounces again.
- Test the new transmitter.
Other SIMU transmitter models may differ in step 2; follow the sheet packed with the transmitter, or call (480) 921-0200.
Can I reset a SIMU motor myself?
We do not publish a SIMU factory reset, and the Gaposa reset is written for Gaposa motors only. If you have lost every transmitter or the motor answers controls it should not, call (480) 921-0200 with the model printed on the motor head.
If the SIMU motor itself has failed, Roll-A-Shield replacement motors are Gaposa or Somfy, each with its own remote; see what a motor replacement involves.
What if it still is not working?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Moves only while a button is held | Still in programming mode | Hold STOP until it jogs, then hold the programming button until the shutter reacts |
| Runs the wrong way | Direction not corrected at step 2 | Re-enter programming mode and hold STOP until the motor jogs |
| A second shutter moves too | Two motors powered at once | Power only the motor you are programming |
| No response from any button | Dead transmitter battery, or no power at the motor | Replace the cell (the TSA+ takes a CR2430), then check power |
Watch it done
How to Set Limits on SIMU Radio Motors
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Gaposa or Somfy remote on a SIMU motor?
Do not count on it. Remotes follow the motor brand, so start with a SIMU transmitter. If the SIMU motor itself has failed, a replacement Gaposa or Somfy motor takes that brand's remote.
How do I factory-reset a SIMU motor?
We do not publish a SIMU reset, and the Gaposa reset steps are written for Gaposa motors only. Call (480) 921-0200 with the model printed on the motor head.
Why does my SIMU shutter only move while I hold the button?
The motor is still in programming mode. Store the limits by holding STOP until the motor jogs, then hold the transmitter's programming button until the shutter reacts.
What battery does a SIMU remote take?
SIMU's TSA+ 4-channel transmitter takes one CR2430 3 V lithium cell, rated for about 2 years; do not use a rechargeable. For other SIMU models, read the code on the old cell.
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.