Hunter-Douglas PowerRise shades - save $ thousands

These shades were originally installed in 2005. The newer Hunter-Douglas power drive systems will not retrofit to the older PowerRise system, so according to Hunter-Douglas the entire shade needs to be replaced. If you do that your new shades will not match the old shades. So, if you want all the shades in the same room to match it is necessary to replace all shades. Every 3 to 5 years they redesign the mechanisms so that after the warranty period they want you to replace you shades even though they are perfectly good except for needing a minor repair.
I was told by Hunter-Douglas and the local dealer that the motor was bad and the entire shade needed to be replaced. I refused to accept that conclusion because this particular shade quit working immediately after I switched the battery wand from another shade. After putting a volt meter on the power source I discovered that the batteries were good, but no power was getting to the motor. The dealer claimed to have checked it with a meter, but obviously that was not done.
A little thinking, investigating, and tinkering can save you thousands of dollars.

[@gdfather13]

Thanks. They sent us what was supposed to be a battery retrofit kit, but it had no instructions and looked like the modern duel chamber version. I spent an hour and a half trying to figure out how to install the thing with no luck. After finding this video, I just popped off the end cap of the old one, sanded it up, and it's working great.

[@markavolio5820]

Thank you. Worked as you described. Wife had replaced the batteries and it quit working. I tested the batteries and they were fine. Then tested battery sleeve and got zero voltage. Watched the vid, removed the cap, removed the corrosion with steel wool. Retested the battery sleeve and got voltage and then reinstalled the battery sleeve, reset the blind and everything worked fine.

[@lincolnpaul7668]

Thanks. This worked like a charm. I cleaned off the contact with sand paper, put in new batteries & it worked fine. Hunter Douglas does now have a retrofit kit that they will send you for free, but this is a much easier solution.

[@donaldharff2648]

Thank you, that works. A little piece of copper doorbell wire in the end of the battery tube and just like new. Saved me $$$$. Was ready to buy a new shade!

[@dm4859]

Thank you for helping everyone with these shades. Just changed batteries on one, and they were corroded. Did exactly what yours did, nothing. Will try this. We inherited these. They've been here a long time. I'm going to try to wash this summer, and think I know how to do it. Anyway.... this is an old post, but still doing great things for people!

[@cherylgielau4729]

Thanks so much for posting this! Per your instructions, I discovered that corrosion was the problem for my 20 year old Silhouette PowerRise too. I cleaned the metal plates inside the battery wand with a QTip soaked in a little vinegar and after re-assembling now it works again!

[@debrabrandell809]

Thank you, Farmer Ed! You saved me thousands! It turned out the glued end had corrosion and once I got it off and cleaned it up, it worked perfectly! 👍

[@NormanHarrisII]

Great video. As I understand it, in the newer battery wands there is actually a fuse, so in that case it may be necessary to replace the wand. Many thanks!

[@pokeymi]

Thank you for this video! Just as you described, we had corrosion issues with both wands. It took some effort getting the caps off, particularly the one which was especially corroded. We used white vinegar & q-tips to clean both connections. That worked like a charm for the first one but needed to use sandpaper for the second one to really get it cleaned up. Both blinds are working great again.

[@loopy4517]

You are a life saver, sir! My shades were dead in the water. This was the first time nothing seemed to work until I stumbled across your video. I did just as you said and found a nice circle of corrosion. They now work like new. Thank You!

[@deejaybriez2341]

Here we are 2020...April, and my man Farmer ED SAVED me! Thank you very much my friend!

[@conniearnold5742]

Thank you! Now I just need to find a ladder to get me up there 20’ to access the battery wand. 👍🏻

[@elizabethcunningham705]

We followed this procedure on 13 year old blinds...we could not get the end cap off..so my husband dropped in some copper wire at the end of the battery wand..put the batteries back in and reinstalled the battery wand..blinds working again! Thanks for posting such a detailed video...you saved us over $600.

[@jediyoda]

Thanks for posting this. We had the EXACT same problem and Hunter Douglas told us we'd have to take the blinds into an authorized dealer which quoted us hundreds of dollars to replace the motor. In the end we switched to Graber because Costco had a deal and we're fed up with Hunter Douglas customer service even though they claim "lifetime warranty". I think there's a reason Hunter Douglas lost their contract with Costco.

[@michaelcarroll9969]

FarmerEd, Thank you! This is exactly accurate. You were also accurate saying these things were too much money to begin with.

[@lutherbobs]

THANK YOU!! You saved me THOUSANDS! I used a little bit of bar keepers foaming spray 3$ at Home Depot around the metal ring on the outside of the battery wand, and it works now! Make sure every metal is clean and shiny and has no rust! I live near the beach and it rusts quick.

[@bpsm98]

Thank you! This did save me thousands as my 2006 blinds were all non-functioning. One of my wands still didn't work even with the cleaning, so I left both end caps off. Works like a dream.

[@sophialau4472]

We were about to give up on 3 PowerRise shades! Turns out one had corrosion on the end cap of the wand; the other 2 were corrosion in the little metal pads (inside the wall mounted unit). These metal pads were made to connect with the metal collar on the wand (located on the end that "pop out" of the wall unit). Thank You so much for sharing ! :)

[@MrPlaiedes]

I have the same blinds. A 12v DC 1-2a power supply works too. Clip it to your contacts and hide the cord along your window. 8 AA batteries per shade is pricy.

[@kinlochdunlap63]

I tried your solution...it worked! Thank you..saved me from buying new blinds...

[@martyc1928]

Thanks you. I cleaned off all the connections with alcohol pads both inside the wand and out and it works now. I was about to give up.

[@johnfazzolari]

Farmer Ed! That was awesome. Thank you so much. Ten minute fix!

[@nealschlintz8229]

Thank you so much. We have ten year old Alta shades and I found our problem to be exactly as you described. I cleaned up the contact with some emery paper and now the shades work like new.

[@gregmilich]

Thanks for the video. I have the exact same problem with 7 shades. I am having trouble understanding how to wrap the copper wire. I also have a brand new wand, and still blinds don't go up. I don't see any corrosion at the positive end ... the little silver contact. A picture of how to wrap copper wire and what to scrap on the positive end would be very helpful. Thank you.

[@MikePConnell]

Worked first try after I cleaned the contacts. Thanks for the tip!

[@carriedavis8430]

It WORKED!! Thank you so much. We've been frustrated for months trying to figure our what to do.

[@gtoxman8910]

IT Worked!! Thanks sooooo much. I too have been frustrated trying to figure this out. Your video is very good.

[@Placerite]

My shade material came untapped and fell down. Does it require a certain type of tape to reassemble?

[@annettepickett6914]

Thank you! I just was able to clean the corrosion off and viola! it works now!

[@mencken8]

Got tired of replacing 4 dozen AA batteries periodically, went with the rechargeable battery wand.

[@tubeiferous]

Thx so much. Can you create a patreon acct so we Can give donations for the help You have provided? This fixed my blinds but the blind goes halfway and stops. Does this sound like anything that could be fixed?

[@samleong1183]

Thank you FarmerEd for the fix; worked beautifully and saved me $$

[@lylahoswald402]

Any chance we can buy the clips that hold the battery wand in place? Any ideas where to buy these?

[@laurel8095]

Can you show more detail about putting the copper wire under the cap? I was able to remove one cap and get it working once, but it stopped. The other blind has a tiny red wire that is disconnected from the non spring end. Thanks

[@rmills8]

Agreed doesn't show the copper wire or anything can you please show

[@doughick53]

Thanks FarmerEd, I have a bigger problem. Contractor broke the pivot clip shown in your video when removing battery wand. Any idea where I can find one? Hunter Douglas no longer has the pivot clip located at the positive end. Thx in advance.

[@nancyerb2946]

Thank you so much! The vinegar trick worked!!!

[@lindahammond7759]

I fell in the trap from Hunter Douglas for one of the 5 PowerRise honey comb when string broke.i had this problem before and they fixed the string while under 5 year warranty. Next time they said they could not repair it - too old. So I had to replace it costing $650. Now I will follow your video to save the other 4. Thank you so much. I paid $2500 in 2001 for all five and I expected them to work properly but that been a pain every time I replace the batteries which said to do every year including the time I fell off a ladder at 11ft and I was injured. If I buy batteries 5 year or 10 years, how often should I replace them? Every year? Or just clean when not working? I have room darkening shades which help a lot but I keep them closed all the time due to all the problems with them. ,

[@TheHen49]

I replaced my battery pack when I press the button on the head rail it works, when I go to use the powerRise remote it doesn’t work? Do I need to reset the remote if so how?

[@kermie3234]

Refer to the manual. cdn2.hunterdouglas.com/static/documents/remote-control-guide.pdf

[@Economist96]

So, it’s a corrosion issue, just like in a flashlight.

[@jamaicanchamo6271]

Thank you so much😊 you save me thousands of dollars to never buy from them .

[@SteviNateAdventures]

You could have gotten a better shade where the motors don't break and saved thousands

[@tonyc9050]

Need to use lithium batteries

[@devisissy1]

OK. Blind repair person here. This is 20 year old tech. Obsolete. To be upset over that is absurd. Also, you are using Duracell which are a mm too short for these wands that's why they corroded. Don't believe me stick a caliper on it and compare it to energizer. DONT USE DURACEL OR KIRKLAND BATTERIES. To the lucky people where this works, congrats. However 9 times out of 10 its the sensor which takes a dump and since it was proprietary tech it is no longer in production or even made. Just be glad you didn't buy Bali, Graeber, Alta, or Levelor. Those have no warranty. At all. At least Hunter Douglas is trying, and in my opinion they don't have to. They improved all these issues in the newest Gen. I mean do you still have your 20 year old TV, Car, phone, computer?

[@dennisrivero5851]

hunter Douglas should provide repair parts for a price on their products. Its a scam to get you to buy new stuff. The motor is only guaranteed for 5 years but i have 15 year old blinds that look fine. I should not have to throw out good blinds because the motor does not work. I have a 20 year old car and boats that i can still buy OEM parts for those items. I will never buy motorized blinds again and certainly not from HD. Manual is fine for most applications.

[@tubeiferous]

Thx. I wondered why Duracell Always caused corrosion! I have a question I hope you can answer! This video Method fixed my blind for going up And down But it only Goes Halfway down and Then Stops. IDoes that sound fixable? Thank you! BTW I’ve been very impressed with HD and their customer service and the way they ship out parts under Warranty etc. if(when) I buy blinds again, they will be hunter Douglas!