Guides
Do motorized blinds work in a power cut? Plug-in and battery motors compared
It comes down to where the motor gets its power. A plug-in motor stops until the power comes back. A rechargeable battery motor isn't affected by a mains cut, because it never ran off the socket in the first place.
When the power goes out, the first thing people with motorized blinds want to know is whether the blind is now stuck where it is. For both a motorized roller blind and a motorized curtain track, the answer depends on the motor. A plug-in motor stops until the power comes back, but the blind isn't locked in place. A rechargeable battery motor doesn't rely on mains power at all. Here are both, side by side, and how to choose for your home.
The short version: what happens, by motor type
| Plug-in motor | Rechargeable battery motor | |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | A socket near the headrail | Its own battery, recharged periodically |
| In a power cut | The motor stops until power returns. The blind isn't stuck — you can pull it by hand, a little stiffer than a manual blind | The motor keeps working, because it doesn't run off the socket |
| Needs a socket near the headrail? | Yes — if there isn't one, an electrician has to add it first | No |
| Upkeep | No charging | About 2 hours to charge, 4-6 months of use per charge |
| Best for | Spots that already have a socket | Spots with no socket, condos, rented homes, and homes where you'd rather not add wiring |
Plug-in motors: stopped until the power's back, but not stuck
This kind of motor runs straight off the socket, so when the power goes you can't move the blind with the motor until it comes back. The good news is that the blind isn't locked where it stopped. What our sales team has confirmed is this: it doesn't get stuck — you can pull it by hand, though it feels a little stiffer than a manual blind. That stiffness is normal for a motorized blind, not a fault.
How it feels to pull by hand may differ between a roller blind and a curtain track, and from one motor model to another. If your area loses power often, or you really need to be able to open and close the blinds during a cut, tell us at the start and ask about the exact model before ordering — better than finding out the first time the lights go off.
- If you have to pull it by hand, pull slowly and steadily — don't yank it.
- If it feels unusually stiff, don't force it. Wait for the power and use the motor.
- When the power's back, run it open and closed once to check it behaves normally. If anything seems off, message us.
Battery motors: a mains cut doesn't stop them
This motor isn't wired to a socket — it runs on its own battery, so whether the mains is on or off makes no difference to the motor itself. It takes about 2 hours to charge and then runs 4-6 months per charge. And the reason most people actually pick it isn't power cuts at all: it needs no wiring.
- It needs charging on a cycle — when the battery runs flat, the motor stops too. The 4-6 months is an approximate range, so noting the date of the last charge helps a lot.
- How you charge it depends on the model — whether it has to come down to charge is something to ask about for the model you're considering, especially on high windows you can't reach.
- The controls may not share the motor's battery — if that model's phone app relies on your home internet, the app may not work while the router is off too. Ask what you can control it with during a power cut on the model you choose.
Condo or finished home: which one to choose
In practice, power cuts are rarely the deciding factor. What really decides it is whether there's a socket near the headrail. Work through these situations.
- There's already a socket near the headrail and you don't want to think about charging — plug-in is the simplest answer, and in a power cut you can still pull it by hand.
- No socket, and you don't want wiring — go battery. Nothing knocked out, no cable run. It's a common choice in finished homes.
- Condo or rented home — adding wiring means talking to building management or the owner first, so a battery motor is usually easier. More in choosing curtains for a condo.
- Frequent power cuts, and you want the motor to keep working through them — battery suits you better. Just keep up with the charging.
- High or hard-to-reach windows — if there's already a socket, a plug-in motor means never climbing up to it again. If you want battery, ask how that model charges first.
- Renovating, with an electrician coming in anyway — have them put a socket near the headrail now, then go plug-in.
The motor type also affects the price, so say which one you want when you ask for a quote — or that you're still weighing both. If your home is finished and you're not sure about sockets, read can you fit motorized blinds in a finished home — it has a five-minute check you can do before messaging us.
Worried about power cuts? Ask these five things first
- Is the model you're quoting plug-in or rechargeable battery?
- How is this blind operated by hand during a power cut?
- If it's battery, how is it charged — does it have to come down?
- During a power cut, which of the remote, app or wall switch still works?
- What's the price difference between the two for your windows?
Get those answers before paying the deposit. Once it's paid the order can't be cancelled, because the fabric is cut to your windows.
Do motorized blinds get stuck in a power cut?
No — you can pull it by hand, though it feels a little stiffer than a manual blind. A battery motor isn't affected by a mains cut at all. If this matters for your home, ask about the exact model before you order.
How long does a battery motor take to charge, and how long does it last?
About 2 hours to charge, then 4-6 months of use per charge.
Do I have to take the battery motor down to charge it?
That depends on the model — ask us and we'll check the one you're looking at rather than guess. What we can confirm today is about 2 hours to charge and 4-6 months of use per charge.
Can you add a power socket for me?
No, we don't do wiring. A new socket has to be added by an electrician before the fitting day — or choose a battery motor, which needs no wiring at all.
Want the numbers for your own windows?
Send rough sizes first — no need to measure precisely. We'll work out a price, then arrange the real measure.
