A Somfy 120V motor runs on line voltage, 120V AC at 60Hz, and covers the widest torque range in the Somfy lineup. One mains circuit can turn a quiet 40 mm interior roller shade or a large exterior awning. Two numbers narrow the choice to one family: the torque your shade needs and the inside diameter of the roller tube. The control path comes next, and it settles the exact SKU.
This guide is the 120V half of a pair. If your project runs on a 24V DC power supply instead, read the sister post on Somfy low voltage motors and which 24V DC model to pick. For the wiring decision between the two, start with 120V AC or low voltage 24V DC wiring.
Torque and tube size pick the 120V family
Somfy builds its 120V AC roller motors in three tube classes. Sonesse 40 fits a tube with an inside diameter of 38 mm or more. Sonesse 50, Sonesse ULTRA 50 and the LT50 line need an inside diameter above 47 mm. LT60 steps up to a larger tube class for the heaviest exterior work. Glydea ULTRA drives a drapery track, so tube size drops out of that decision.
Sizing comes first. Our guide on how to size a Somfy shade motor walks through fabric weight and tube diameter. Once you have a torque target, the table below shows the family that covers it.
| Family | Representative SKU | Torque / speed | Tube (inside diameter) | Control | Noise |
| Sonesse 40 RTS | 404S2 (1001636) | 4 Nm (35 in-lb) / 36 rpm | 38 mm (1.5 in) or more | RTS, 3-wire | 42 dB |
| Sonesse 50 WT | 506S2 (1001814) | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 32 rpm | over 47 mm (1.85 in) | Wired 4-wire | 45 dB |
| Sonesse 50 RS485 | 506S2 RS485 (1002286) | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 32 rpm | over 47 mm (1.85 in) | RS485 (SDN) | 45 dB |
| Sonesse ULTRA 50 RTS | 506A2 (1002562) | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 24 rpm | over 47 mm (1.85 in) | RTS | 38 dB |
| LT50 standard | 506S2 (1033401) | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 38 rpm | over 47 mm (1.85 in) | Wired 4-wire | |
| LT50 Altus RTS | 525A2 (1043423) | 25 Nm (221 in-lb) / 20 rpm | over 47 mm (1.85 in) | RTS | |
| Glydea ULTRA 60 WT | 1003160 | curtains up to 132 lb (60 kg) | drapery track | Wired | 38 dB |
Every roller motor in the table runs on 120V AC, 60Hz. The Glydea ULTRA 60 accepts 90-240V AC, so it connects to the same 120V circuit.
Sonesse 40 and Sonesse 50 for quiet interior shades
Sonesse is Somfy's quiet interior range. The 120V versions suit roller shades and Roman shades in rooms where people sit close to the window. The Somfy Sonesse 40 RTS 404S2 RH 120V Motor (1001636) delivers 4 Nm at 36 rpm and measures 42 dB. The 400 Series also offers 6 Nm at 24 rpm in the 406A2 and 9 Nm at 14 rpm in the 409R2.
Step up to Sonesse 50 for wider or heavier fabric. The Somfy Sonesse 506S2 Standard 120V 4-Wire Motor (1001814) gives 6 Nm at 32 rpm at 45 dB. The 510S2 adds headroom with 10 Nm at the same speed. Bedrooms and media rooms call for the Somfy Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 RTS 120V Motor (1002562). It runs at 38 dB, the lowest roller figure in this group, and draws 0.5 W in standby.
The full Sonesse diameter breakdown lives in Sonesse 28 vs 30 vs 40 vs 50 compared.
LT50 and Altus RTS for screens, awnings and shutters
The LT50 platform is the 120V workhorse. It shares the 47 mm tube class with Sonesse 50 and reaches far higher torque. Somfy's 500 Series runs 6 Nm and 10 Nm at 38 rpm for light screens, 25 Nm at 20 rpm for mid-size awnings, and 20, 40 and 50 Nm at 14 rpm for shutters and wide exterior screens.
The Somfy LT50 506S2 120V 4-Wire Motor (1033401) is the entry point. This star head motor turns 6 Nm at 38 rpm, with a detachable cable and six head positions. For radio control with no extra receiver, the Somfy 525A2 Altus RTS 120V Motor (1043423) puts 25 Nm at 20 rpm behind a built-in RTS receiver. Installers set its limits from a handheld remote.
LT60 for heavy exterior work
LT60 takes over once a load passes the LT50 range. Somfy builds it on a larger motor body for big retractable awnings and heavy rolling shutters. The Somfy LT60 Altus RTS 660R2 (1162271) carries the same built-in RTS receiver as the LT50 Altus, so installers pair it with Somfy remotes and set its limits from a handheld transmitter.
Size an LT60 from the awning or shutter maker's torque chart, then match the crown and drive to the tube. Compare the two platforms in LT50 vs LT60 tube and torque.
Wired 4-wire, RTS, RS485 or CMO control
Somfy 120V motors follow four control paths. The cable and the motor name tell you which one you hold.
- Standard 4-wire (WT): a 4-conductor cable with white neutral, red for one direction, black for the other and green ground. A wired up/off/down wall switch or a relay drives it. Pick these for pre-wire jobs and third-party control systems.
- RTS: a 3-conductor cable carrying hot, neutral and ground, with the radio receiver inside the motor. It pairs with Somfy remotes, DecoFlex wall switches and TaHoma.
- RS485 (SDN): the Somfy Sonesse 506S2 RS485 Motor (1002286) adds a data connection for addressable, two-way control from a commercial or whole-home system. It reports shade position back to the controller.
- CMO crank: a 4-wire exterior motor with a Compact Manual Override runs from a wall switch day to day and takes a hand crank during an outage.
A 4-wire motor can go wireless later. The Somfy Universal RTS Receiver for 110V AC Motors (1810627) sits between the line and a wired motor and adds RTS remote control.
Our Somfy control systems comparison covers RTS, Zigbee, SDN and wired in more depth.
Glydea ULTRA 60 WT for wired drapery
Drapery jobs on a 120V circuit go to the Somfy Glydea Ultra 60 Wired Drapery Motor, No Plug (1003160). It traverses curtains up to 132 lb (60 kg) at 38 dB, with soft start and stop plus Touch Motion. The bare-lead cable suits hardwired installs run from a wall switch or an automation system. It drives pinch pleat and RippleFold headings, plus Accordia.
Pick the family from torque and tube, then pick the SKU from the control path. Each motor here carries Somfy's 5-year warranty.
Somfy 120V motor FAQ
Is a Somfy 120V motor the same as a hardwired motor?
Yes, in most cases. A Somfy 120V motor connects to line voltage, either by a plug cord or wired into a junction box by an electrician. The term "hardwired" covers both 4-wire switch motors and RTS radio motors, since both draw 120V AC power. Battery WireFree motors and 24V DC motors fall outside this group.
Does a Somfy 4-wire motor run from a wired switch?
Yes. A 4-wire Somfy motor uses a 4-conductor cable: white neutral, red for one direction, black for the other direction and green ground. A wired up/off/down switch or a relay sends power to red or black to move the shade. The motor has no radio inside. Add a Somfy Universal RTS Receiver to control it by remote.
Is Sonesse ULTRA 50 the quietest Somfy 120V motor?
It shares the top spot. The Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 RTS (1002562) measures 38 dB, and the Glydea ULTRA 60 drapery motor also rates 38 dB. Among standard roller motors, the Sonesse 40 404S2 RTS runs at 42 dB and the Sonesse 50 506S2 at 45 dB. Choose Sonesse ULTRA 50 for bedrooms and media rooms.
Can one 120V motor family cover both interior and exterior shades?
The LT50 platform can. Somfy rates it from 6 Nm at 38 rpm for interior and light screen work up to 50 Nm at 14 rpm for shutters and awnings, all on the same tube class above 47 mm inside diameter. Exterior jobs above 50 Nm move to the larger LT60 platform.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
