Retractable Pergola Sun Shades (Solar)

Rinova's Retractable Solar Sun Shades are motorized, solar-powered outdoor screens with an integrated rechargeable battery that bring one-touch sun control to your pergola, patio, and home windows across Orange County. Because they're solar-powered, there's no wiring and no electrical permit required — just mount, and control the shade with a remote at the push of a button. Backed by a 5-year warranty.

No cable. No electrician. No re-tensioning after three summers. A small 18 V / 5 W solar panel charges the built-in 5,200 mAh battery, so there's no electrician, no wall-switch wiring, and typically no electrical permit needed. One full charge covers roughly 40 open/close cycles, and at two to four cycles a day the panel keeps the battery permanently topped up. Charging from empty takes about eight sunny days.

Cool your west-facing rooms, cut your AC bill. Mounted on the outside of a window, a solar screen blocks the sun's heat before it hits the glass — far more effective than any interior blind. On a hot, west-facing Southern California afternoon that means dramatically less heat gain, lower cooling costs, and comfortable rooms all day.

Not just for pergolas — protect your home's windows too. Use these motorized exterior screens over patio openings, sliding doors, and sun-facing windows to shade your whole home. Block heat, glare, and UV at the source for a cooler, more cost-efficient home — without changing a single window.

Keep insects out & add daytime privacy. The screen fabric acts as a barrier against mosquitoes, flies, and pests, and shields your space from outside view while you still see out and enjoy natural light. Close for a private retreat, retract in seconds for the full open view.

What This Screen Is Actually Made Of

Four components decide whether a screen still runs cleanly after five years. Most sellers will not name them. We will — with manufacturer, type, and measured value.

Drive — A-OK Solar Motor

A tubular motor with its own battery and solar panel. No 230 V connection, no cable runs, no electrician.

• Electronic end stops. Positions are programmed rather than bolted in place — the screen stops at exactly the same point on every run and does not drift over the years.
• Obstacle detection. If the bottom bar meets resistance, the motor stops automatically. Protects the fabric, the mechanism, children, pets and furniture alike.
• 20 Nm of torque. Headroom for the full width of a 16-foot bay carrying heavy 515 g/m² fabric, with no judder on start-up.
• Quiet 12 V DC operation. Noticeably quieter than a 120 V drive.
• Around 40 cycles per charge, full charge in roughly 8 sunny days. Optionally rechargeable via charger (12.6 V / 1.0 A) for long shaded periods — ready to use all year round.

Drive specifications: A-OK AM45-20/12-R-ES-E · tubular motor Ø 45 mm, DC · 20 Nm at 12 rpm · DC 12 V with integrated 5,200 mAh Li-ion battery · electronic end stops · obstacle detection · 433 MHz radio · 70 mm roller crown with adapter, SO bearing · solar panel AC605-03, 18 V / 5 W.

Fabric — Serge Ferrari Soltis 7635

A glass-fibre core instead of polyester. It does not stretch and does not shrink, so the fabric will not sag years down the line.

• 42 % glass fibre, 58 % PVC. Dimensionally stable under sustained tension — decisive for a ZIP system, whose fabric is held permanently taut. Polyester stretches under load and in damp conditions, and starts to ripple after a few seasons.
• Non-combustible core. Classified to B1 (DIN 4102-1), M1 (NF P 92-507), Classe 1 (UNI 9177) and Euroclass C-s3,d0.
• 515 g/m², 0.73 mm. At the heavy end of its class — flutters noticeably less in wind and runs more quietly.
• Openness factor 5 %. The view out remains, the view in disappears, and glare drops significantly.
• Easy to maintain. The PVC surface barely picks up dirt and wipes clean with a damp cloth. No unhooking, no washing.
• 5-year manufacturer warranty on the fabric from Serge Ferrari.

Choosing your fabric colour:

• Grigio (RAL 7037) — transmits only 7 % of solar energy (g_tot 0.04), blocking around 96 % of heat gain. Reflectance 16 %, light transmission 6.3 %. Minimal glare, clearest view through. The right choice for a hot west-facing exposure.
• Bianco (RAL 9003) — reflects 63 % of solar energy back and transmits 24.7 % of daylight (T_s 25 %, g_tot 0.10). Brighter interior, and the fabric itself heats up less.

In short: grey for shade and view, white for brightness. Soltis 7635 is dyed on both sides; more than 20 two-tone combinations are available on request.

Side Guides — Plastex CLIPzip®

Patented clips hold the zip inside the track, so gusts cannot pull the fabric out.

• The most common failure on retractable screens is not a motor fault — it is fabric torn out of the track. CLIPzip® was developed for exactly that.
• Tested to gusts of 130 km/h (81 mph) and guaranteed by the manufacturer.
• Tension adjustable on site. Tracks are pre-drilled on a 100 mm grid and the clip position is set during installation, so the screen hangs crease-free regardless of manufacturing tolerances — and can be readjusted years later without new parts.
• −25 °C to +85 °C (−13 °F to 185 °F). Not brittle in winter, not soft at the height of an inland Orange County summer.
• 4,000 hours UV certification, fire class UL94 V2, thermal expansion 0.00007 mm/mm °C.
• 10-year manufacturer warranty from Plastex on the CLIPzip® system.

Finish — TIGER Drylac®

The same coating and colour chart as your Terra or Venta pergola — no colour mismatch between pergola and screen.

• Super-durable quality. Holds colour and gloss considerably longer than standard polyester powder — including in coastal locations like Newport Beach and Laguna Beach and under high UV exposure inland.
• Qualicoat-certified line including tested pre-treatment. Adhesion is determined by the pre-treatment, not by the powder alone.
• Standard colours Anthracite RAL 7016 and White RAL 9010 — exactly the Terra and Venta frame colours.
• Custom colours available across four finishes (Smooth Glossy, Smooth Matte, Fine Texture Matte, Metallic Fine Texture Matte), roughly 32 shades, at a 5 % surcharge.
• Low maintenance. Aluminium does not rust — no painting, no oiling, no aftercare.

Choose your size and finish (6 configurations):

• Sizes: 10' ($1,499), 13' ($1,599), 16' ($1,699)
• Finishes: Anthracite (RAL 7016), White (RAL 9010)

Key features:

• Motorized, solar-powered with integrated 5,200 mAh rechargeable battery
• ~40 open/close cycles per charge; solar panel recharges automatically
• Remote control (433 MHz) — no wiring, no electrician, no electrical permit
• Obstacle detection and electronic end stops
• Glass-fibre-core fabric that will not stretch or sag
• CLIPzip® side guides tested to 130 km/h
• Blocks exterior heat & UV to cool west-facing rooms and cut AC costs
• Insect barrier + daytime privacy + wind and light-rain protection
• 5-year warranty

Retrofit friendly. Because no cabling has to be run, these screens can be added to an existing Terra or Venta pergola at any time — set the cassette, screw on the side tracks, aim the solar panel at the sun. End stops and the handheld remote are set at the factory.

Professional local installation. Rinova Pergola installs motorized solar outdoor screens throughout Orange County, LA County, and Riverside County. Explore our full range of motorized outdoor screens and solar shades, or learn how to cool a west-facing house. Pair with a Terra or Venta louvered pergola, or compare our manual sun shades. Visit our Santa Ana showroom to see them in action. Licensed and bonded, CSLB #1116353.

Solar Retractable Screens — Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really enough sun — even in winter? A full charge lasts for roughly 40 cycles. At two to four cycles a day, the 18 V / 5 W panel keeps the battery permanently topped up; charging from empty takes about eight sunny days. For long periods of shade there is an optional charger (12.6 V / 1.0 A). The screen stays ready to use all year round.

Do I need an electrician to install it? No. There is no 120 V connection and no cabling to lay. Set the cassette, screw on the side tracks, aim the solar panel. End stops and the handheld remote are set at the factory — plug and play, just like the manual version.

How loud is the motor? It is a 12 V DC tubular motor rather than a line-voltage drive, and therefore considerably quieter. The thermoplastic of the CLIPzip® guide additionally damps sliding noise, and at 515 g/m² the fabric flutters noticeably less than lightweight screens.

What happens if the screen hits an obstacle? The motor has obstacle detection: if the bottom bar meets resistance, it stops automatically. This protects the fabric and mechanism as well as people, pets and furniture in its path.

How wind-stable is the screen? The Plastex CLIPzip® side guide is tested for gusts up to 130 km/h (81 mph). The clips engage behind the zip inside the track, so the fabric cannot be pulled out. Even so, retract the screen when a storm is forecast.

Which fabric colour should I choose, grey or white? Grigio (RAL 7037) transmits only 7 % of solar energy and blocks around 96 % of heat gain — little glare, clearest view through. Bianco (RAL 9003) reflects 63 % back and transmits 24.7 % of daylight for a brighter interior, and the fabric heats up less.

Can I add these to a pergola I already own? Yes. No cabling has to be run, so solar screens can be retrofitted to an existing Terra or Venta at any time, coated in the same TIGER Drylac colours so no colour mismatch arises.

What does the warranty cover? 5 years on defects in material and workmanship. Serge Ferrari provides 5 years on the fabric and Plastex 10 years on the CLIPzip® system. Not covered: damage from extreme weather events, improper installation, or mechanical force. Retract the screen when a storm is forecast — this applies to every fabric sun-shading system.