Document Type: Technical Installation Guide Subject: 3-wire roller shutter motor (AC asynchronous motor) Language: English (Terminology matches French “volet roulant 3 fils”) 1. Introduction In residential and light commercial buildings, roller shutters are most commonly equipped with AC asynchronous tubular motors . The "3-wire" designation refers to the motor’s control side, which uses three distinct conductors to manage upward and downward movement, plus a separate protective earth (PE). This configuration is standard in French and European electrical installations (NF C 15-100). 1.1 Objective To provide a clear, safe, and code-compliant wiring diagram for a 3-wire roller shutter motor, including the connections for a push-button switch or a relay-based automation controller. 2. Identifying the 3 Wires A standard tubular motor has a connection cable exiting the motor head. The 3 active wires are typically colored as follows (EU standard):
– some “3-wire” motors may include a capacitor wire (rare), but the standard tubular motor for roller shutters follows the scheme described above. Appendix A: Quick Reference Diagram MAINS SUPPLY ROLLER SHUTTER MOTOR (230V AC) | Live o-----+----------[UP button]---------o Brown (Up) | +----------[DOWN button]--------o Black (Down) Neutral o------------------------------o Blue (Neutral) schéma branchement volet roulant 3 fils
Disclaimer: Electrical work must be performed by a qualified person following local regulations. This document is for informational purposes only. This configuration is standard in French and European
Earth o------------------------------o Green/Yellow (PE) Identifying the 3 Wires A standard tubular motor
L (230V) ---+---[Relay1 COM]---[NO]--- Brown (Up) | +---[Relay2 COM]---[NO]--- Black (Down) N ------------------------------------ Blue
If the shutter is fully open, the brown wire is internally disconnected. Applying phase to brown does nothing. To close, phase must be applied to black. 5. Wiring for Home Automation (Relay Module) Modern installations use a centralized controller (e.g., KNX, Zigbee, or wired automation). In this case, the 3 wires connect to two relays (one per direction). 5.1 Relay Module Wiring (e.g., 2-channel dry contact module) | Relay Module Terminal | Connected to | |----------------------|--------------| | Relay 1 Common (COM1) | Live (L) 230V | | Relay 1 NO (Normally Open) | Brown wire (motor up) | | Relay 2 Common (COM2) | Live (L) 230V | | Relay 2 NO | Black wire (motor down) | | Neutral bus | Blue wire | | Earth bus | Green/Yellow |