Upgrading Hunter Douglas Cellular Motors
Hunter Douglas upgraded their PowerView motors in 2022 to the new Gen 3 system. It is a Bluetooth system which is very solid and efficient. But, what if you have Gen 2 motors and wanted to upgrade them? Can it be done? Well, honestly, I wasn’t sure, so I ordered a motor and filmed the process. Here is how it went.
https://youtu.be/KDa2BUsnNYU
So, as you could see, we were able to get the Gen 3 motor to work. Yay! But since you are reading the blog, I am going to point out one huge issue that I had to overcome. That is the pairing of the motor to the app. Here is how that went.
Pairing a Gen 3 Motor to the Hunter Douglas App
End Cap of Hunter Douglas Cellular PowerView Shades
In the video I showed the clear plastic button that presses the internal button on the Gen 2 motor. The connection to the Gen 3 motor was NOT solid. So, here is what I did on the installation. I re-installed the Duette Shade into the window and tried to press the button. It did not work. Honestly, it was a little frustrating. But this is how I resolved it.
I took the shade down, removed the end cap and found the Gen 3 button that is attached to the motor. I pressed and held it until the light turned solid orange. This allows it to be paired. Please keep this technical detail in mind, you need to have the power connected to do this. The pairing will not work if it not attached to the battery or the DC power system.
This post is not explaining how to pair the Gen 3 motor to the app, it is only talking about how to update the motor to the Gen 3 from the previous model named Gen 2. Both are motors for cellular shades by Hunter Douglas.
Should You Replace Your Gen 2 Motor?
The simple answer is, no. The Gen 2 motor is a very solid motor. In this job, we had a specific desire that changing to the Gen 3 would accomplish. My personal feeling is that in the next few years, it may become very difficult to get a Gen 2 motor. Hunter Douglas provides them for a number of years, but when the time of availability is gone, you might need to use this information. At least you will know that it can be done. Please remember that I am not telling you to do this. I am not encouraging you to do this. I just wanted to show you that if you use creativity, you can accomplish the upgrade from the Hunter Douglas Gen 2 to the Hunter Douglas Gen 3 motor.
About Us
Kempler Design is located in Reno NV and serves the northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe regions with a mobile design showroom. Paul Kempler, its founder is considered a window fashions expert. Kempler Design has been featured in many prestigious projects, including the HGTV dream home in Lake Tahoe. Kempler Design works with homeowners as well as interior design firms looking for a local contact in the Reno/Tahoe area or is available for travel.