Shade Battery Basics
1. What type of batteries should I use in my shades?
2. How do I insert batteries correctly in the battery wand?
3. What should I do if my batteries are leaking or have white powder?
4. Can I use lithium batteries in my shades?
Battery Life and Performance
5. How long will the batteries in my shade last?
6. How do I know when my shade batteries need to be replaced?
7. How is battery life determined by Hunter Douglas?
Remote Battery Support
8. What type of batteries do remotes use?
9. How long will the batteries in my remote last?
10. How do I know when remote batteries are low?
11. Can I use rechargeable batteries in shades or remotes?
12. Can I extend the life of my remote batteries?
13. What if I damage my remote when changing the batteries?
Other Battery Questions
14. Can I paint the battery wand or battery pack cover?
15. My shade makes a high-pitched squeal—could it be the battery?
What type of batteries should I use in my shades?
We recommend alkaline AA batteries for most shades.
Exception: Duette® and Applause® honeycomb shades with SkyLift™ should use lithium AA batteries
Batteries must be heat-resistant and non-leaking
Duracell® batteries are standard in most Hunter Douglas shades
How do I insert batteries correctly in the battery wand?
Batteries must be placed in series—all in the same direction.
Use the diagram on the battery wand to guide installation
Duracell batteries alternate copper/black ends
Energizer alternates silver/black
Correct
Incorrect
Important: Never install two batteries with the same pole facing each other. This can cause damage to the batteries and wand.
Caution: If a battery wand or individual battery is dropped from installation height, replace it. Damage may not be visible, but it could result in leaking or reduced battery life.
What should I do if my batteries are leaking or have white powder?
This is usually potassium carbonate, a harmless salt left behind when a battery vents.
Batteries vent to safely release pressure from hydrogen gas buildup
This happens more often when batteries are old or exposed to heat
Leaking doesn’t mean the battery ruptured—it’s part of the safety system
Always remove and replace leaking batteries
Tip: Avoid leaving low batteries inside the wand—venting is more likely near the end of life.
Can I use lithium batteries in my shades?
Lithium batteries offer no major performance benefit in PowerView or PowerRise shades and cost significantly more.
These systems are low discharge, and lithium only outperforms in high-drain devices
For most shades, alkaline is more cost-effective
How long will the batteries in my shade last?
Typical battery life is about one year when using AA alkaline batteries.
Battery life is affected by:
Shade size: Taller drops run longer = more power draw
Usage: More Scenes = more motor activity
Standby draw: Shades “wake up” 400,000+ times/day to check for signals
Heat: Higher temps = faster battery self-discharge
Example: A 120" drop shade uses more power than a 60" drop because the motor runs longer—even if the width is the same.
How do I know when my shade batteries need to be replaced?
Replace batteries when:
Shade movement slows down
The red LED blinks 8 times at the end of a move
You receive a red battery icon in the PowerView App (if using a hub)
You receive a low battery email alert (if notifications are enabled)
How is battery life determined by Hunter Douglas?
We base it on real usage simulations:
We select a shade size at the 80th percentile by sales volume
Measure standby current and a full open/close cycle
Use that to calculate average daily power draw
Then derate battery capacity by 25% for heat + variability
Final estimate = battery life in days, targeted to exceed one year
Note: Cycling a shade until batteries fail does not provide accurate battery life data due to variables like signal traffic and background drain.
What type of batteries do remotes use?
PowerView Remote & Scene Controller: Two CR2032 coin batteries
PowerRise Remotes: Two AAA alkaline batteries
How long will the batteries in my remote last?
Battery life is typically one year. We recommend changing them annually on the anniversary of your shade purchase to avoid surprises.
How do I know when remote batteries are low?
PowerView Remote symptoms:
Only the “1” group button stays lit
Command lights (arrows or open/close) flash rapidly
Remote won’t enter programming mode
No lights appear when pressing buttons
PowerRise Remote symptoms:
Signal weakens and shades don’t respond
Eventually, the remote won’t light up at all
Can I use rechargeable batteries in shades or remotes?
Not recommended.
Most off-the-shelf rechargeable batteries do not provide the sustained current required to operate Hunter Douglas PowerView® and PowerRise® shades reliably.
Most rechargeables only charge to 1.2V, while alkaline batteries deliver 1.5V
Rechargeables typically have 50–60% the capacity of a standard alkaline battery
Many use vented seals that may leak under high heat or repeated use
Exception:
Hunter Douglas offers a Rechargeable Battery Wand, specifically designed for use with most shade products. See the Charge a Rechargeable Battery for details.
If a consumer chooses to use other rechargeable batteries, remind them:
They’ll need to change batteries much more often
Performance may be inconsistent
They assume responsibility for any resulting battery issues
Can I extend the life of my remote batteries?
Yes, there’s a small way to reduce battery drain: disable the accelerometer.
This feature causes the backlights to turn on when the remote is picked up or moved. You can turn it off to conserve power:
Press and hold the “6” button on the remote for 6–7 seconds
The six group buttons will flash once—this confirms the accelerometer is disabled
To re-enable it, repeat the same step
The remote will still function normally—only the automatic backlight will be disabled.
What if my remote is damaged while changing the batteries?
Remotes damaged during battery replacement are covered under the standard five-year limited warranty. If damage occurs, contact your dealer or Hunter Douglas Customer Support for assistance.
Can I paint my battery wand or satellite battery pack cover?
No. Painting any battery housing component is not recommended.
Paint can interfere with thermal regulation or electrical contact
It may damage performance and void the warranty
My shade makes a high-pitched squeal—could it be the battery?
Yes. A high-pitched squeal or whine, especially right before stopping, is often caused by low voltage due to:
Weak or nearly depleted batteries
A failing or unstable power source (for hardwired systems)
To resolve:
Try replacing the batteries with new, high-quality alkaline batteries
If the shade is hardwired, confirm it's receiving a stable 18 V DC supply
More help is available in: Fix High-Pitched Squeal in PowerView® Shade by Replacing Batteries