Troubleshooting by symptom · Rolling Shutter Guide
Why is there no power to my shutter motor, or why does it trip the breaker?
Check the safe things first: the breaker is on, a GFCI outlet has not tripped, a plug-in motor is plugged in, and other shutters on the circuit work. After heavy use, wait about 15 minutes for its heat cut-out. A breaker that trips again and again is not normal: stop and call a licensed electrician.
Key facts
- A motor that stops after many up-and-down runs has usually tripped its thermal protection; it resets itself in about 15 minutes. Roll-A-Shield data
- A breaker or GFCI that keeps tripping is not normal; stop resetting it and have the circuit checked by a licensed electrician. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield follows the motor maker's rule: the motor cable ends in a listed junction box and is not run through the wall. Roll-A-Shield data
- Solar and battery shutters have no connection to house power, so they keep working in a power outage. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Wired and remote-control rolling shutters with 120 V tubular motors (Gaposa, Somfy), including Roll-A-Shield's switch-operated, remote and manual-override motors. Solar and battery shutters have their own pages.
A motorized shutter that does nothing at all is often not short of power: a dead remote battery or a motor resting after its thermal cut-out looks exactly the same from the window. Work through the checks below, which need no tools and no wiring. Anything beyond them, including a breaker or GFCI that keeps tripping, belongs to a licensed electrician.
Symptom, likely cause, what to do
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing happens and the remote's light does not come on | Dead remote battery | Change the remote battery. |
| Stopped after a lot of up-and-down use, no sound | Thermal cut-out | Wait about 15 minutes; it resets itself. |
| This shutter and others on the same circuit are dead | Breaker off or tripped, GFCI tripped, or no power to the circuit | Check the breaker; press reset on a GFCI outlet once. |
| Only this shutter is dead; others on the circuit work | Thermal cut-out, lost pairing, or the motor | Wait about 15 minutes, re-pair the remote, then book a technician. |
| Motor that plugs into an outlet is dead | Unplugged, or outlet has no power | Check it is plugged in, and check that outlet's breaker or GFCI. |
| Breaker or GFCI trips when the shutter runs | Not normal; the circuit needs checking | Reset once and test. If it trips again, stop and call a licensed electrician. |
| Trouble started after window, painting or other contractor work | Contractor work near the shutter | Stop using it and have it inspected. |
| Motor hums or buzzes but the shutter does not move | Jam, off-track curtain or motor failure | Stop running it; see the hum page. |
What can I check safely before calling an electrician?
These checks need no tools and do not involve opening any wiring:
- Press a button on the remote and watch for its light. No light usually means a dead remote battery.
- If the shutter stopped after a lot of up-and-down use, wait about 15 minutes; the motor's thermal protection resets on its own.
- Check that the breaker for that circuit is on.
- If the shutter is on a GFCI outlet, press its reset button.
- If the motor plugs in, check that it is plugged in.
- See whether the other shutters on the same circuit work. If they do, the circuit has power and the problem is with this shutter.
- If only this shutter is dead, try re-pairing its remote, then book a technician; the motor is the likely cause.
Stop: Do not open the motor wiring, the switch or the junction box yourself. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Why does my shutter keep tripping the breaker?
Reset a tripped breaker or GFCI once and test. One that trips again is not normal: stop, do not keep resetting it, and have the circuit checked by a licensed electrician.
Roll-A-Shield's wired motors run on 120 V AC and draw 0.7-5.5 A, depending on the motor's size.
If the tripping started after window replacement, painting or other contractor work near the shutter, stop using the shutter and say so when you call; Roll-A-Shield's service desk treats anything that got worse after contractor work as a reason to stop and have it inspected.
Safety: Never run a motorized shutter while its slat curtain is disconnected, for example during window work. A jam can burn out the motor and damage the entry guides.
How does a shutter motor get its power?
A wired or remote shutter motor runs on house power at 120 V AC. Its cord is 18 ft as standard, with longer cords up to 25 ft for some motors when ordered, and Roll-A-Shield's measure sheet asks for the power source to be within 3 ft of the shutter.
For the connection, Roll-A-Shield's rule is: 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. Some older install videos show the cable run through the wall; that is older practice, and the motor maker's rule takes precedence.
Solar and battery shutters are different: they have no connection to house power, so a tripped breaker or an outage does not affect them. See solar shutter problems and battery shutter problems.
What if the power is out?
A wired motor cannot run without power. If it has a manual override, open it with the crank wand; override motors are available on wired and remote motors, not on solar or battery ones. See How to open a motorized shutter when the power is out and the manual override.
What next
In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team diagnoses dead and tripping shutters on site; call (480) 921-0200. For anything on the house wiring side, use a licensed electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Most of my shutters work but one is dead. Is it the breaker?
Probably not, if the others share the same circuit. When only one shutter is dead, wait about 15 minutes for its thermal cut-out, try re-pairing its remote, and if it is still dead, book a technician; the motor is the likely cause.
Can I wire a new switch or move the outlet myself?
Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty, but that includes the electrician rule.
The power is out. How do I open my shutter?
A wired motor needs power. If it has a manual override, open it with the crank wand; solar and battery shutters keep working on their own charge.
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.