What is the ShutterBox used for? Can it control roller shutters, windows, awnings and curtains?
The ShutterBox can control all external roller shutters (with slats) that are not fitted with radio control. It works with both motors fitted with mechanical limit switches (adjusted with a key) and those with electronic limit switches. In addition, it is fully suitable for controlling roof window and awning motors, and is compatible with certain versions of motors featuring a built-in radio system. Depending on the application, the operating modes can be changed in the controller’s settings via the wBox app.
Which controller should I choose: shutterBox, shutterBox DC or shutterBox DIN?
For controlling roller shutters with 230V motors, the standard shutterBox is a good choice, particularly as it fits into a standard fi65 electrical box, so it can be concealed behind a wall-mounted switch. If the system has multiple control points and you want a neat, tidy look in the distribution board (e.g. controlling the roller shutters for an entire floor from a single location), the DIN version is a good choice.
For motors powered by 12V or 24V, you should choose the shutterBox DC.
Which motors are compatible with the various versions of the shutterBox controller?
ShutterBox/ShutterBox DIN: window roller shutter motors – 4-wire (two phase wires, neutral and earth), powered by 230V AC, with a power rating below 1250VA, which are not equipped with a built-in radio system. Some versions of motors with a radio module are also supported, but not to the full extent – it will not be possible to calibrate the roller shutter’s position.
ShutterBoxDC v2: 12V/24V roller shutter motors with a current draw of up to 5A, fitted with mechanical limit switches and overload protection.
ShutterBoxDC v1: 12V/24V roller shutter motors with a current draw of up to 2A, fitted exclusively with mechanical limit switches.
Does shutterBox provide a preview of the position of the roller shutter or window?
Yes, once calibration has been carried out – calibration is available under the ‘Device settings’ tab. For motors with a built-in radio system, calibration may not be possible.
Can two or more motors be connected to a single shutterBox controller?
We do not recommend this. It may cause calibration issues, for example, if one of the roller shutters stops halfway whilst the other continues to operate. Furthermore, please bear in mind that motors draw significantly more current at start-up than during normal operation, which can easily overload the controller and cause it to exceed its rated specifications.
Does the shutterBox have anti-freeze protection or overload protection?
The ‘maximum movement limit’ function is available in the shutterBox settings. This acts as a time-based safety feature – it switches off the motor if the roller shutter becomes jammed and fails to reach the limit switch. This parameter should be set based on the time taken for the roller shutter to complete a full cycle. It is important that this value is slightly greater than the actual travel time – it must not be equal to or less than this, as this would cause the motor to stop prematurely.
Which controller should you choose to control a valve? It
depends on the supply voltage of the valve’s servomotor. Some valves are driven by a 230V AC motor; in this case, you should use the shutterBox or the DIN version.
For low-voltage servo mechanisms (i.e. 12..24V DC) that are two-wire, you should use the ShutterBoxDC, which is based on an H-bridge that reverses the polarity.