How to calculate the weight of a roller shutter without taking it down

When it comes to installing an engine for your shutter it is essential to know its weight; in this way, you can know if it is the perfect model for your home. For this reason, in this post we are going to show you how to calculate the weight of a blind without taking it down.

Why is it important to know the weight of a blind?

When it comes to acquiring a engine for a roller shutter, you have to focus on two aspects: the weight and diameter of its axis.

• Blind weightThe engine power : helps you to know the power required by the engine, so you can choose the one with the most suitable characteristics.
• Shaft diameterThe most common sizes are 40 or 60 mm. Knowing this diameter allows you to calculate the required motor force and to know which is the correct adapter.

For this reason, it is essential to know the weight of a roller shutter in order to be able to acquire the right most suitable engine for your window model.

Calculate the weight of a blind without unhanging it

To calculate the weight of a roller shutter without unhanging it, the first thing to do is to measure height and width of it, including the drawer. When you have these data, multiply them. The result must be multiplied by the approximate weight of the sheets.

To calculate the upward force you must know what material the slats of your roller shutter are made of and multiply the final result we have obtained above by 0.7; in this way, you can find out what is the minimum force the motor needs to operate.

Example of how to calculate weight

To give you an idea of how this calculation should be done, here is an example of a PVC slat roller shutter with a height 1.8 metres high and 1.5 metres wide.

As we have seen, it turns out that we are dealing with PVC sheets, which means that it is necessary to multiply the result by 7. Therefore, this would be the final tally you should make:

Weight = 1.8 x 1.5 x 7 = 18.9 kg/m2

Then, to find out what is the adequate power you must multiply that result by 0.7.

18.9 x 0.7 = 13.02 Nm

You should go for a engine to support that weightEven so, it is best to choose a model with a slightly higher power rating to ensure durability and good performance.

How to choose a roller shutter motor

We have already seen that knowing the weight of a roller shutter is essential to know which roller shutter motor you need. Even so, there are other factors that can help you to determine what is the perfect system for raising and lowering the blinds in your home.

• Product typeThere are many ways to protect your home from the sun and the weather, so it is essential that you choose whether the motor is for a blind, awning or blind.
• Engine activation systemIt is not the same to choose one with a switch as one that works by remote control.
• ComplementsYou can choose from a variety of brackets, couplings, tubes, emitter controls and other extras.
• Axle typeIt is very important to select compatible and small dimensions. This is because the motor power decreases the larger the shaft diameter.

Compensating torsion springs

On the other hand, we cannot finish this post without mentioning the compensating torsion springs. These are steel wires (in helical form) that provide high resistance to a radially applied rotational force.
Torsion springs have many applications. In the case of roller shutters, they help to reduce its noise level, control its power and lower the engine's consumption. This ultimately results in a longer service life.

Conclusion

As you can see, calculating the weight of a roller shutter without unhanging it is essential to guarantee its correct operation, so if you are going to buy a motor for your roller shutter, don't forget to do this calculation beforehand.