Troubleshooting by symptom · Rolling Shutter Guide
Why does my battery-powered rolling shutter keep dying?
On an OZRoll E-Port shutter, the removable controller holds the battery and works only when seated in its wall plate. Keep it seated, charge it on a cycle instead of leaving it on the charger, and allow about 8 hours for a full charge. A failed older battery switchboard (BOS) usually means converting to a new battery or solar system.
Key facts
- The E-Port controller must be seated in its wall plate to work, and it is charged with a plug-in AC/DC adapter. Roll-A-Shield data
- E-Port batteries are not designed to stay on the charger all the time; recharge on a cycle instead. Roll-A-Shield data
- OZRoll says a full charge of the E-Port controller takes about 8 hours; it is a 14.8 V, 1,600 mAh lithium-ion pack.
- One non-radio E-Port controller can run more than one shutter; OZRoll recommends up to 3.
- The BOS (battery-operated switchboard) is an older system that is no longer manufactured; if it fails, the shutter may need converting to a new battery or solar system. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: OZRoll E-Series battery shutters with an E-Port 18650 controller and wall plate (radio and non-radio), older OZRoll Control 10 systems, and BOS battery switchboards. For Gaposa solar shutters, see the solar page.
Roll-A-Shield's battery shutters are mostly OZRoll systems: a 12 V motor in the roll tube, powered from a removable battery controller that sits in a wall plate inside the house. Some older units have a BOS battery switchboard instead (below). Owners usually call because the shutter keeps going flat, the controller has stopped responding, or they need a new controller, charger or battery. Check the charging routine and the controller's lights before suspecting the motor.
Symptom, likely cause, what to do
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Battery keeps dying, even after charging | Controller left on the charger all the time, or not seated in the wall plate | Keep it seated in the wall plate and charge it on a cycle. |
| Buttons do nothing, no lights | Controller in sleep mode | Plug the charger into the jack on the bottom of the controller to wake it; the charge light comes on. |
| Charge light flashes when you press a button | Controller needs charging | Charge it fully, about 8 hours. |
| Top light flashes when you press a button | Controller is not driving a motor (not seated in the wall plate) | Seat the controller in the wall plate and try again. |
| Top and charge lights flash together | Error mode: a fault in the charging circuit | Take it off any charging source and call. |
| Top and charge lights flash alternately | Lockout after heavy use in a short time | Wait a few minutes, then use it normally. |
| Top light stays on | Test mode | Press UP, DOWN, STOP, STOP; the controller goes to sleep, then wake it. |
| Shutter runs past its stop or stops short | Limit switches drifted | Check and reset the limits; it takes two people. |
| BOS battery switchboard has failed | System no longer manufactured | Call about converting to a new battery or solar system. |
Why does my battery shutter keep dying?
Start with how it is charged. The E-Port controller only works when it is seated in its wall plate, and its battery is not designed to stay on the charger permanently: recharge it on a cycle, then put it back in the plate. OZRoll says a full charge takes about 8 hours. The controller is a 14.8 V, 1,600 mAh lithium-ion pack, charged through a plug-in AC/DC adapter rather than wired to the house.
A non-radio E-Port is portable and can operate more than one shutter, and OZRoll recommends no more than 3. A radio (RF) E-Port is not portable: each shutter has its own controller, paired to an OZRoll remote.
What do the lights on the E-Port controller mean?
The controller has two lights, a top light and a charge light, and OZRoll uses them to show what it is doing.
- Top light comes on for a few seconds when you press UP or DOWN: normal, the motor is being driven.
- Top light flashes: the controller is trying to drive but there is no motor, usually because it is out of the wall plate.
- Charge light comes on when the charger is plugged into the controller: normal, power is available.
- Charge light flashes when you press a button: it needs charging.
- Both lights flash together: error mode. The controller has detected a problem in the charging circuit and cannot be used; remove it from any charging source. OZRoll says the usual cause is a short circuit in the wall plate, such as stray wire whiskers, metal swarf, crushed wiring or metal touching the plate's terminals. Newer controllers (batch 0027 or higher on non-radio units, 0011 or higher on radio units; digits 3 to 6 of the serial number) reset once the battery has gone flat; older ones need a service call.
- Lights flash alternately: lockout, which protects the controller after a lot of use in a short time. It clears after a few minutes.
- Top light stays on: test mode. Press UP, DOWN, STOP, STOP to leave it; the controller then sleeps until you wake it with the charger.
Stop: If the controller keeps going into error mode, have the wall plate and its wiring checked rather than replacing controllers.
What is a BOS battery switchboard, and can it be fixed?
A BOS (battery-operated switchboard) is an older battery control system that is no longer manufactured. When one fails, the usual answer is converting the shutter to a new battery or solar system rather than repairing the board. Call (480) 921-0200 with a photo of the board and the shutter, and see Should I repair or replace an old rolling shutter?.
Can I still get an OZRoll controller, charger or battery?
Yes. Roll-A-Shield still supplies E-Port controllers, chargers and wall plates for OZRoll battery shutters; call to match the part. OZRoll's older Control 10 battery pack went out of production in 2011 and was replaced by the E-Port, which works with existing systems through a conversion wall plate that fits the old mounting holes. More on identifying older systems: legacy battery shutters.
Is a battery shutter still a good choice?
For the right opening. A battery motor needs no wiring and keeps working in a power outage, which suits shaded or north-facing openings where a solar panel would not get enough sun; it is best on smaller, lighter shutters, and the controller has to be kept charged. Battery motors have no manual override crank, and the Bond Bridge used for phone and voice control does not work with OZRoll battery motors.
What next
Call (480) 921-0200 for E-Port controllers, chargers and wall plates, or about converting an old battery system. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services battery shutters on site.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an OZRoll E-Port controller take to charge?
OZRoll says a full charge takes about 8 hours. Charge it, then put it back in the wall plate; it is not designed to sit on the charger permanently.
Does a battery shutter work in a power outage?
Yes. A battery shutter runs on its controller's stored charge, so a power outage does not stop it, and it has no manual override crank.
Can I control my OZRoll battery shutter from my phone?
Not through the Bond Bridge that Roll-A-Shield uses for phone and voice control; it works with Gaposa and Somfy remote motors, not OZRoll battery motors.
My controller is from an older OZRoll system. Will a new E-Port fit?
OZRoll designed the E-Port to replace its older Control 10 pack, which went out of production in 2011. The two wall plates have different mounting footprints, so OZRoll makes a conversion wall plate that fits the old holes. Call (480) 921-0200 to match the parts.
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.