Key facts

• Roll-A-Shield's field reference values for the Gaposa SPB18 solar kit: panel about 20-22 V DC in full sun (suspect under 14 V); rested battery 13.0-14.2 V healthy, replace under 11.5 V. Roll-A-Shield data
• Roll-A-Shield measures the panel and the battery at their own connectors inside the solar station; it does not publish a pin layout for the sealed 4-pin motor plug, because its records disagree. Roll-A-Shield data
• A static voltage only proves the panel or battery makes voltage, not current under load, and not that the motor is good; a part should fail the load test or the substitution test before it is called defective. Roll-A-Shield data
• On a known-good unit the battery read about 14 V charged and held about 13.3 V while the motor ran. Roll-A-Shield data
• Charge the battery only with the Gaposa charger, for no more than 3.5 hours.

Applies to: Gaposa Autonomo solar motors with the SPB18 solar kit (20 and 30 Nm), as used on Roll-A-Shield solar shutters. The 50 Nm SPB22 kit uses a higher-voltage panel and battery, so these reference values do not apply to it.

A solar shutter that will not run could have a weak panel, a tired battery, a bad connection or a failed motor, and they look the same from the window. A multimeter separates them, but only if each part is tested on its own. The rule Roll-A-Shield works to: never condemn a part on one voltage reading. A panel or battery that shows good voltage has only proved it makes voltage, not that it delivers current under load, and not that the motor is good.

On one returned unit that installers had written off as a bad panel and battery, both tested good (21 V panel; 13 V battery holding 13.3 V under load), and the same solar station ran a known-good motor normally: the motor was the fault.

What can I check without opening anything?

Start outside the solar station. These checks need no meter and clear many "dead" units:

• The panel gets direct sun; ambient light, shade or a spot under the roof pitch is not enough.
• The panel is clean: wipe off dust and residue.
• The plug between the motor cord and the panel is fully seated and screwed tight, with no corrosion.
• A battery that has run down completely will not recover on sunlight alone; it needs the Gaposa wall charger, for no more than 3.5 hours.

If it still will not run, try the reset on Why does my solar shutter stop halfway or run slowly?, then call (480) 921-0200 before opening the solar station or probing the motor plug.

Where are the test points?

Inside the solar station, not on the motor plug. The battery is in the solar station (the panel housing), not in the motor. Inside, the panel and the battery each have their own small connector with a red (positive) and black (negative) lead, before they join the 4-conductor cable to the motor. That lets a technician measure each circuit cleanly without piercing the sealed 4-pin motor plug. Roll-A-Shield's internal records disagree on which plug pins are the panel and which the battery, so it does not publish a pin layout: positive and negative are identified at the component connector.

How does Roll-A-Shield test the panel and the battery?

This is the bench test Roll-A-Shield's service team runs on a solar unit before calling a part defective. It uses a digital multimeter on DC volts, the Gaposa charger, a programming remote, a camera and, for the last step, a known-good motor and solar station.

1. Inspect. Panel clean and unshaded, wiring intact, every connector fully seated, no corrosion.
2. Panel. Only the panel connector is unplugged, the panel goes in direct sun, and DC volts are read across it, red probe on positive and black on negative.
3. Charge the battery. It is charged with the Gaposa charger for no more than 3.5 hours, then left to rest overnight.
4. Battery. Only the battery connector is unplugged and read.
5. Under load. Everything is reconnected, the motor is run and the battery voltage is watched while it runs.
6. Substitute. If the panel and battery pass and the shutter still misbehaves, the solar station is moved onto a known-good motor.

What should the readings be?

These are Roll-A-Shield's field reference values, measured on the SPB18 kit used with the 20 and 30 Nm solar motors.

A part should fail the load test or the substitution test, not just a resting reading, before it is called defective.

Do these values work for every Gaposa solar kit?

No. They come from the SPB18 kit. The 50 Nm motor uses the SPB22 kit, with a higher-voltage panel and battery, and Roll-A-Shield has not published reference values for it:

For a 50 Nm unit, call (480) 921-0200 before condemning a part.

What if the battery is the problem?

A battery that has run down completely will not recover on sunlight alone; it needs the wall charger. If it charges, tests healthy and still runs flat again in good sun, it is wearing out: Gaposa rates the solar battery at 3-5 years, and says recurring deep-discharge symptoms after about 3 years mean it should be replaced. On Roll-A-Shield shutters the solar battery falls under the 2-year electronics warranty.

Before a warranty return

Dealers: troubleshoot with Roll-A-Shield by phone before sending a solar unit back, and keep photos of the panel position and connectors. A unit that comes back and tests fault-free can be charged to the dealer, so troubleshooting first saves money as well as time. If the tests point to a sun or panel-placement problem rather than a fault, see Why does my solar shutter stop halfway or run slowly?.

What next

Call (480) 921-0200 with your readings for help reading them, or for a replacement battery, charger or motor.

Frequently asked questions

Which pins on the motor plug are the battery and which are the panel?

Do not rely on pin numbers. Roll-A-Shield's own records disagree on the pin layout of the sealed motor plug, so it does not publish one. In the shop, the panel and the battery are measured at their own connectors inside the solar station, where each circuit has a red (positive) and black (negative) lead. Call before probing the plug.

The battery reads fine at rest. Is it good?

Not necessarily. A resting voltage proves the battery makes voltage, not that it can deliver current. Run the motor and watch the reading: a healthy battery holds close to its resting voltage, and a weak one collapses under load.

Do these numbers apply to the 50 Nm solar motor?

No. The 50 Nm kit pairs a 22 V panel with a 16.8 V battery, and Roll-A-Shield's reference values were measured on the 20 and 30 Nm kit. Call for help with a 50 Nm unit.

What does a dealer need before returning a solar motor?

Call first and troubleshoot with Roll-A-Shield before shipping anything. Photos of the panel position, its sun exposure and the connectors help. A returned unit that then tests fault-free can be charged to the dealer.

Related questions

• Why does my solar rolling shutter stop halfway, run slowly or not work at all?
• How do I hard-reset a solar rolling shutter motor?
• How do I hard-reset a solar rolling shutter motor?
• How do solar-powered rolling shutters work, and where does the panel go?
• What are the specs of each rolling shutter motor (torque, speed, current)?
• Somfy vs Gaposa: rolling shutter motors