The Knowledge Library · 5 min read
Battery vs. Hardwired Motorized Drapery
When battery motors are honest, when they are not, and what the studio specifies in each case.
Hardwired DC motors are the studio's default specification. Battery motors are reserved for retrofits where wiring is genuinely impossible.
Hardwired DC
Quieter, faster, more reliable, and designed for long, low-maintenance service life. The right answer for any new construction or substantial renovation.
Battery
Acceptable for retrofits where low-voltage runs are not possible. Plan for battery replacement every three to five years; lithium packs degrade.
When battery is wrong even though it is the easier sale
Primary suites with bedside control. Tall mounts where ladder access for battery replacement is impractical. Hospitality and commercial applications.
Written by Olga Rechdouni, ASID · House of Drapery