Troubleshooting by symptom · Rolling Shutter Guide
My motorized shutter is stuck closed. How do I get it open?
Start with the cheap causes: a fresh remote battery, the breaker and outlet, and, if the motor went silent after heavy use, a wait of about 15 minutes for its thermal cut-out. In an outage, only an override crank, a solar motor or a battery motor can be counted on to open it. Don't force the curtain up by hand.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield's wired and remote motors carry an electromagnetic disk brake that applies full braking on a power failure, so a plain motor holds the curtain where it stopped. Roll-A-Shield data
- A motor that goes dead with no sound after a lot of up-and-down use has usually tripped its thermal protection; it resets by itself in about 15 minutes. Roll-A-Shield data
- In a power outage, manual-override (crank) motors open by hand, and solar and battery motors keep running on their own power; a plain wired or remote motor has no such backup. Roll-A-Shield data
- A solar battery that has run completely flat will not recover on sunlight alone; it needs the wall charger. Roll-A-Shield data
- A shutter that closed onto an object must not be run back up with the motor. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Motorized rolling shutters (roll-down security shutters) of any brand with a tubular motor: wired wall-switch and key-switch motors, Gaposa and Somfy radio motors, manual-override (CMO) motors, Gaposa solar and OZRoll battery motors.
A motorized shutter that will not open is rarely a broken shutter. Work through the checks in order: the cheap, common causes first, the motor last. If it closed onto something, or the curtain is bunched or out of its rails, skip straight to the stop rules at the end.
Symptom, likely cause, what to do
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Remote light does not come on | Dead remote battery | Change the battery. |
| Nothing at all, and other shutters on the same circuit are dead too | No power: breaker, GFCI outlet or plug | Check the breaker, reset the GFCI, check the plug. |
| Worked a moment ago, now silent after a lot of up and down | Thermal cut-out | Wait about 15 minutes; it resets itself. |
| Power is out in the house | The motor brake is holding the curtain | Use the override crank if there is one; otherwise wait for power. |
| Only this shutter is dead; the remote works others | Thermal cut-out, lost pairing, or the motor | Wait, then re-pair the remote; still dead means a technician. |
| Solar shutter dead after cloudy or shaded days | Battery run down | Direct sun and a clean panel; a fully flat battery needs the wall charger. |
| OZRoll battery shutter dead | Controller off its wall port, or flat | Seat the controller in its wall port and charge it on a cycle. |
| Hums or buzzes, curtain does not move | Jam, off-track curtain, or a motor or gear failure | Stop pressing the button and have it inspected. |
| It closed onto something, then stopped | Backroll | Do not run it up. Follow the backroll steps. |
| Stuck since window, painting or other contractor work | Shutter disturbed during the work | Stop and have it inspected. |
What should I check first?
Check the things you can fix in a minute before anything else. These are the same checks Roll-A-Shield's service desk runs on the phone before booking a technician.
- Press a button on the remote and watch for its small light. No light usually means a dead battery.
- Check the breaker is on. If the shutter is on a GFCI outlet, press its reset button; if it plugs in, check the plug.
- Try another shutter on the same circuit. If it is dead too, the problem is power, not this shutter.
- If the shutter stopped responding after a lot of use, leave it alone for about 15 minutes. Roll-A-Shield's quick-fix sheet allows 15 to 20 minutes.
- If the remote runs other shutters but not this one, wait out the thermal cut-out and then pair the remote again; see Remote stopped working.
Tip: A thermal cut-out is quiet. A motor that is dead with no sound at all after heavy use has usually overheated; a motor that hums is a different problem.
How do I open it when the power is out?
Only with an override crank, or with a motor that carries its own power. A wired or remote shutter motor has an electromagnetic disk brake that gives a smooth stop and full braking on a power failure, so a plain motor holds the curtain where it stopped until the power returns.
| Motor type | Opens in a power outage? |
|---|---|
| Wired or remote motor with manual override (CMO) | Yes, by hand with the override wand |
| Plain wired or remote motor | No backup; wait for the power to return |
| Gaposa solar motor | Yes, on its own battery |
| OZRoll battery motor | Yes, on its battery |
To use the override, hook the removable wand onto the universal joint that hangs from the box, or, on a Gosnell-style override, fit the wand's hex end into the hole in the box, then turn it. On a large shutter this can take a long time and feel heavy. The manual override page has the full steps.
For a bedroom or escape window, check your local egress rules: a manual override, a solar motor or a battery motor keeps the shutter operable in a power outage.
Why does the crank open it, but not the remote or switch?
It points to the motor rather than the curtain or rails: if the crank moves the curtain freely, nothing is jammed. On large shutters where the override crank still works but the remote only makes the motor buzz, Roll-A-Shield has seen the pattern end in a motor replacement. Crank it to where you need it and book a technician.
Why won't my solar shutter open?
A solar shutter stops when its battery runs down. Confirm the panel gets direct sun (indoor or reflected light will not charge it) and wipe dust off it; a dirty panel is a common cause. If the battery has ever run completely flat, it will not recover on sunlight alone and needs the wall charger. After that, the solar reset is the next step.
When should I stop and call?
Stop: If the shutter came down onto something, do not run it up with the motor; that causes more damage. Clear the object and follow the backroll steps.
Stop: Do not operate a shutter that is off its track, back-rolled, jammed or spinning at the top, and never run a motor while the slat curtain is disconnected, which can burn out the motor and damage the entry guides.
Safety: A breaker or GFCI that keeps tripping is not normal. Stop resetting it and have a licensed electrician check the circuit.
If the motor itself has failed, the fix is a motor replacement: with the power off, the box cover comes off, the rivets are drilled out and the motor slides out of the tube. See How do I replace a rolling shutter motor? Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. Shutters over 9 ft wide need two technicians on a service visit.
What next
Remotes and Gaposa motors are in the Roll-A-Shield parts store. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield repairs rolling shutters of any brand; call (480) 921-0200. Outside Phoenix, call the same number for parts and phone support.
Watch it done
Gaposa remotes: replacing the battery
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Can I push a stuck motorized shutter up by hand?
Don't try. The motor's built-in brake is designed to hold the curtain where it stopped, including during a power failure, so without power the way to open it is the override crank, if the motor has one. Otherwise wait for power or call for help, and don't pry the curtain or the bottom bar.
How long should I wait if the motor overheated?
About 15 minutes. Roll-A-Shield's own quick-fix sheet allows 15 to 20 minutes, and Somfy recommends at least 15 minutes of cooling after continuous running. Nothing needs to be pressed; the motor resets itself.
Does a shutter that will not open need a new motor?
Not necessarily. Work through the power, remote battery, thermal and re-pairing checks first. Book a technician when the shutter is still dead after those checks, or when it hums without moving; the technician decides whether the motor needs replacing.
My solar shutter is stuck closed after a cloudy spell. What now?
Make sure the panel gets direct sun and wipe it clean. If the battery ran completely flat, sunlight will not bring it back; charge it with the wall charger, then try the shutter again before booking a technician.
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.