How to Choose a Somfy Motor for a Retractable Awning

Short answer: To pick a motor for a retractable awning, take the torque from the awning frame maker's figure for your width and projection, then match an LT50 or LT60 motor to the roller tube. Choose a Somfy Sunea RTS CMO if you want a hand crank for power cuts, or an Altus RTS if you do not, and pair an Eolis wind sensor before the first storm.

A new awning build gives you a choice a replacement job does not: you pick the motor family and the control path from scratch. Four decisions settle the order: torque, the tube platform, the head with or without a crank, and the control path with its sensor. The motors in this guide sit in our Somfy awning and exterior motors range, and each one is a tubular motor that slides inside the awning's roller tube.

Already have a motor that failed? Our guide to replacing a Somfy awning motor starts from the old label instead.

Start with the frame's torque figure

Torque is the turning force the motor delivers at the roller, measured in newton meters (Nm). A retractable awning loads the roller harder than a window shade of the same width, because the folding arms carry spring tension that pushes the fabric out. Four things raise the torque a frame needs:

• Width, since a wider roller carries more fabric.
• Projection, the distance the arms reach out from the wall.
• Fabric weight, since acrylic, vinyl-coated and mesh fabrics differ in weight.
• Arm count and spring strength, set by the frame maker.

Awning frame makers publish a motor recommendation for each size of frame, and that figure is the one to buy against.

Somfy writes the torque into the model code. A 525A2 delivers 25 Nm, a 535A2 delivers 35 Nm and a 550R2 delivers 50 Nm. The first digit names the platform: 5 for LT50, 6 for LT60. Building a frame yourself with no maker's chart? Call us at 859-414-6872 with the width, projection, arm count and tube size, and we will help you size it.

LT50 or LT60: the roller tube sets the platform

Somfy publishes a 1.85 in minimum tube inside diameter for its LT50 awning motors and 2.37 in for LT60. Measure the inside of the roller tube before you order. Most residential lateral arm awnings run an LT50 roller, and the four LT50 motors below cover 25 to 50 Nm.

A heavy frame rated above 50 Nm steps up to LT60, which runs from 60 to 100 Nm. That step changes the crown, the drive and the bracket too, because LT50 and LT60 accessories do not interchange. Our Somfy awning motor price guide lists the LT60 Altus RTS options with their prices.

Sunea RTS CMO or Altus RTS for a new awning

Somfy builds two LT50 radio families that suit a projecting awning, and the head decides between them.

The Sunea RTS CMO carries a CMO head, Somfy's compact manual override. Somfy describes the CMO as letting you operate the awning by hand when power is unavailable. A crank rod hooks into the eye at the motor head and retracts the fabric during a power cut or before a storm. Sunea also adds functions built for awnings: a back impulse that tensions the fabric at full extension, plus a closing force setting and an automatic inner limit on cassette frames.

The Altus RTS is Somfy's universal radio motor, with a star head and electronic limits. Somfy lists it for awnings, exterior solar screens, rolling shutters and several more applications. It suits a standard lateral arm awning that will run without a crank.

The four motors run on 120V AC, 60Hz, carry an IP 44 rating, use electronic limits and come with Somfy's five year warranty. Each has a built-in RTS receiver on 433.42 MHz.

RTS radio or a wired motor

An RTS motor hides the radio receiver inside the motor tube. You run one 120V supply to the awning, then control it by remote, wall transmitter or sensor with no control wiring back to the house. Somfy rates the Sunea RTS CMO for 12 transmitter channels, so a patio remote, a wall transmitter and a wind sensor can share one motor with room to spare.

A wired motor takes a different route. It needs a wall switch wired to its up and down leads, plus a separate receiver if you later want a remote or a sensor. Wired LT50 motors suit a build where an electrician runs switch leg wiring anyway, or where a home automation panel drives the awning through relays. For a homeowner adding a single awning to a patio, RTS saves the wall wiring and opens the door to a sensor later.

The Somfy Telis 1 RTS Patio Remote (1810643) is the usual first transmitter. Somfy rates it IP 44 for outdoor use, with 164.05 ft of open field range. A new RTS motor needs one transmitter to set its direction and limits, so plan the remote into the first order.

Add a wind sensor before the first storm

An extended awning acts like a sail. The Somfy Eolis 3D WireFree RTS Wind Sensor (1816081) mounts on the awning and retracts it when it detects wind, even while you are away. Somfy powers it with two LR3 (AAA) batteries and a low battery alert. It carries an IP 44 rating and runs on 433.42 MHz. It pairs straight to an RTS motor with no hub.

Pair the sensor at the same time as the motor and the remote. Our guide to Somfy wind, sun and rain sensors for awnings compares the Eolis with the Soliris sun sensor and the Ondeis rain sensor. A wired motor needs a receiver between it and any wireless sensor, one more reason RTS suits a new awning.

The parts list for a new awning motor

A Somfy motor ships as the motor alone. Inside the tube, a crown and drive transfer torque from the motor to the roller, and both must match the tube profile. Outside, an end bracket holds the head to the awning frame.

• A 70 mm octagonal roller takes the Somfy Octagonal LT50 70mm Crown and Drive Set (9012234), which fits both LT50 families. Round and other octagonal tubes have their own sets.
• A Sunea RTS CMO takes the Somfy Motor Bracket for Sunea CMO RTS, US (9015802).
• An Altus RTS takes the Somfy LT50 Star Head Motor Bracket (9410651). A star bracket will not hold a CMO head.
• One RTS transmitter, plus the wind sensor.

Install guides for each motor sit in our Somfy spec library. Order the motor, crown, drive, bracket, remote and sensor together and the awning goes up in one visit.

Frequently asked questions

What size motor do I need for a retractable awning?

Use the awning frame maker's motor recommendation for your width and projection. Longer projection, wider frames, heavier fabric and stronger arm springs all raise the torque. Somfy's LT50 awning motors cover 25 to 50 Nm and need a 1.85 in minimum tube inside diameter. Frames rated above 50 Nm move to LT60, which needs 2.37 in.

Do I need a manual override on an awning motor?

A manual override lets you retract the awning by hand when the power is out. Somfy's Sunea RTS CMO carries a compact manual override head that accepts a crank. The Altus RTS has a star head and no crank. Pick Sunea if the awning sits where a storm could arrive during an outage, and pair a wind sensor either way.

Is an RTS or wired motor better for a new awning?

An RTS motor has the radio receiver built in, so it needs a 120V supply and pairs with remotes and sensors with no extra receiver. A wired motor needs a wall switch wired to it and a separate receiver for any remote or sensor. RTS suits most single awnings. Wired suits builds where an electrician or an automation panel drives the motor.

Does a Somfy awning motor come with a remote?

The Somfy RTS awning motors in this guide ship as the motor alone. An RTS motor needs one transmitter to set direction and limits, so add a remote such as the Telis 1 RTS Patio (1810643), rated IP 44 for outdoor use. Add the crown and drive set and the bracket that matches the motor head.

Sources: Somfy product pages on somfysystems.com for the 535A2 RTS CMO (compact manual override, IP 44, 12 channels, 433.420 MHz), the Eolis 3D WireFree RTS 1816081 and the Telis 1 RTS Patio 1810643; Somfy e-catalog pages on somfypro.com for the Altus RTS 525A2 and 550R2 and the Sunea RTS CMO 535A2 and 550R2; Somfy Sunea RTS CMO Visual Reference Guide.

Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.