Electric roller covers have quickly become one of the most popular upgrades for modern dual cab utes — offering convenience, security and seamless integration with factory tech. But with more tech comes more questions, and one of the biggest myths floating around is the idea that electric roller covers can drain your battery when your vehicle is not running.

If you’ve ever wondered whether an electric roller shutter could leave you stranded with a flat battery, this guide breaks down the facts using real technical data from the HSP Roll R Cover — Australia’s leading electric roller cover system. However if you’re looking for a tonneau cover, our new Roll Mate could be a better preference.

Do Electric Roller Covers Drain Your Battery?

Short answer: No — not when they’re designed correctly.

The HSP Roll R Cover is engineered to draw power only while operating, and once closed or opened, it returns to a near-zero draw state. This ensures it won’t drain your ute’s battery while parked, locked, or not in use.

Let’s break down exactly how the system works.

How Much Power Does the Roll R Cover Actually Use?

Power Draw While Operating

When you activate the cover — via the app, touchpad, factory remote or internal buttons — the motor and LED strip draw between 5–8 amps on average. The controller can support up to 20A at 12V depending on load, but this is only during movement, which lasts a maximum of 15 seconds.

This is a very short, controlled draw similar to operating a power window or central locking — not enough to impact a healthy vehicle battery.

Power Draw When Not Operating

Here’s the key fact most ute owners want to know:

When the Roll R Cover is not in use and the LED light is off, the system draws virtually no power.

• Current draw at rest: ≈ 40mA at 12V (480mW)
  
• LED light automatically turns off after 10 minutes but can be changed in the HSP App (max 15 minutes)
  
• Touchpad and control system go into low-power mode
  

This micro-draw is comparable to many factory features such as immobilisers, ECUs or digital clocks — and is not enough to drain your battery.

Will the LED Light Drain the Battery?

Only if it stayed on continuously for hours or days — which it can’t, thanks to built-in protection.

• LED strip has a 1.25A current limit
  
• Short-circuit protection triggers at 2A
  
• Auto-off timer prevents long-term battery drain
  

This means the LED is safe, efficient and engineered to prevent unnecessary power loss.

Does the Roll R Cover Send Power Back Into the Vehicle System?

No. The HSP Roller Cover is designed only to draw power, not send it backward.

The controller includes TVS diodes that protect the system from unexpected voltage spikes, and they only begin conducting at 24.4V — accounting for rare 24V system scenarios.

This safeguards your vehicle’s wiring from reverse current issues.

Can the Motor Drain the Battery Quickly?

Not under normal use.

The motor has a 15-second default runtime and uses end-stop detection based on current draw. This prevents the motor from running longer than necessary.

If someone manually overrides the default settings, power usage could increase — but even then, the motor still cannot run continuously without user input.

What Happens if Your Battery Is Failing?

A weak or dying battery can cause ANY powered accessory to behave unusually.

To protect your vehicle, the Roll R Cover:

• Will not operate below 10.5V
  
• Will not operate above 18V
  
• Uses a flashing LED pattern to warn you when voltage is out of range
  

This prevents strain on your vehicle’s electrical system and protects the cover’s motor and electronics.

Can an Electric Roller Cover Cause a Battery Fire?

A correctly installed Roll R Cover will not cause a battery to catch fire.

However, HSP cannot control the quality, age or condition of the battery inside your vehicle. If a vehicle battery is already faulty or poorly maintained, any electrical accessory could highlight or worsen existing issues.

The cover is designed with protective circuitry, but the health of the battery itself is the responsibility of the vehicle owner.

How to Test Your Roller Cover’s Power Draw

The simplest method is to use a current clamp on the wiring loom. This lets you instantly see how much current is being drawn during operation and at rest.

This is a straightforward test for electricians, auto-sparks or experienced DIYers.

So, Do Electric Roller Covers Drain Your Battery?

With the HSP Roll R Cover, the answer is clear: No.

It only draws a small amount of power during operation, returns to near-zero draw when idle, and includes multiple layers of protection to reduce strain on your vehicle’s battery.

As long as your battery is healthy, the Roll R Cover will not drain it — even when operated through the app with the vehicle locked.

Upgrade Your Ute With Australia’s Most Advanced Electric Roller Cover

The HSP Roll R Cover is fully compatible with HSP Load Bars, Load Rack Pro, Load Rack JNR and Load Slide, making it the most complete ute bed system on the market.

Engineered for reliability, convenience and low-power consumption, it’s the ideal upgrade for tradies, tourers and everyday ute owners across Australia.