A power cut stops a motorized awning wherever it happens to sit. The Somfy 525A2 RTS CMO answers that with a Compact Manual Override built into the head, so a crank handle finishes the travel the radio started. Installers choose this reference for patio awnings and rolling shutters that have to close before weather arrives, whatever the grid is doing.
Somfy builds two separate operating paths into one motor here. Radio Technology Somfy drives the shade day to day, so no control wiring runs back to the head and a handheld remote does the work from across the patio. The CMO gearbox sits at the motor head and accepts an override shaft, giving the owner a mechanical route to the same tube.
That second path matters on exterior products. An awning left extended through a storm takes damage that a replacement motor will not fix. Somfy publishes this reference at 25 Nm and 20 rpm, with electronic limits rated for 34 turns of the tube.
Awnings and rolling shutters it drives
Somfy lists two applications for the 525A2 RTS CMO: awnings and rolling shutters. The 25 Nm rating puts it in the middle of the LT50 500 Series range, above the 10 Nm 510S2 and below the 50 Nm 550R2. A lateral arm awning with a 12 to 14 foot projection and a standard aluminum roller tube lands in this bracket. Rolling shutters on residential openings sit here too.
Torque sizing starts at the roll diameter. Measure the finished roll diameter on the tube, add the weight of the front bar, and compare against the 221 in-lb this motor produces. Somfy's motor sizing method walks the arithmetic.
Verified specifications
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Official Somfy name | 525A2 RTS CMO |
| Torque / speed | 25 Nm (221 in-lb) / 20 rpm |
| Power supply | 120V AC, 60 Hz (108 to 126 V) |
| Rated current | 1.6 A |
| Power consumption | 180 W operating, 0 W standby |
| Radio frequency | 433.420 MHz, rolling code, 16 million codes |
| Channels | 12 |
| Open field range | 164.05 ft |
| Head type | CMO (Compact Manual Override) |
| Limit switches | Electronic, 34 turns |
| Minimum tube inner diameter | 1.85 in |
| Motor diameter | 1.97 in |
| External diameter | 1.77 in |
| Motor length, unwrapped | 30.98 in |
| Head dimensions | 3.52 in wide, 3.92 in high |
| Cable | SJTW, 3 wire, removable at the head |
| Protection index | IP 44 |
| Insulation class | Class I |
| Operating temperature | -13 to 158 F |
| Storage temperature | -4 to 176 F |
| Thermal protection | 5 min |
| Applications | Awning, rolling shutter |
| Certification | UL |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Figures come from Somfy's own published data for reference 1043426 on somfypro.com and somfysystems.com.
Tube, crown and drive, and override hardware
The 1.85 in minimum internal diameter governs everything about the tube. A tube with a smaller bore will not accept the motor body at 1.97 in across, and a crown that clears the motor body still has to seat against the tube wall without rocking. Measure the inside of the tube rather than trusting a profile name.
Two crown and drive sets cover most of the tubes this motor goes into. The LT50 2.5 inch round crown and drive set (9012231) suits smooth round tube on awnings and larger rolling shutters. The octagonal LT50 70mm crown and drive set (9012234) handles 70mm octagonal shutter tube, the profile that shows up on most residential shutter boxes. Pick the set that matches the tube already in the installation.
Head mounting runs on CMO geometry, which differs from the star head plates that fit the rest of the LT50 range. Use a bracket Somfy specifies for a CMO head. A star head plate will not hold this motor.
The crank path needs one more part. The CMO awning override shaft, 100mm with Geiger eye (9707287) threads into the CMO gearbox and gives the crank handle something to engage. The Geiger eye is the ring at the free end that takes a standard crank hook, the same fitting the awning trade has used on manual gear boxes for decades.
Shaft length depends on how far the motor head sits from the point where someone stands to crank. A 100mm shaft covers a head mounted close to the awning hood. Deeper hoods and soffit installations need a longer shaft, and Somfy publishes the override range in the 500 Series databook. Order the shaft with the motor. Retrofitting one after the hood goes up means taking the awning apart again.
RTS control and setup
This motor holds up to 12 radio channels and talks at 433.420 MHz with rolling code security. A single awning runs well on a one channel handheld. The Situo 1 Channel RTS Pure remote (1870571) pairs in under a minute and gives up, down, and a programmable intermediate position for partial shade.
Open field range reaches 164.05 ft. Masonry and metal shutter boxes cut into that figure, so mount the receiver side of the installation where the signal has a clear line out of the box. Somfy's TaHoma switch brings the same motor onto a phone and into sun and wind sensor logic.
Limits set electronically through the remote, with 34 turns of travel available. Set the up limit first on an awning, because the front bar hitting the hood is the failure that bends hardware.
Install notes worth checking first
Power runs through a removable SJTW three wire pigtail at the motor head, which lets an electrician pull the lead without unseating the motor from the tube. Class I insulation means this motor needs a ground. IP 44 covers splashing water, enough for a hood or a shutter box and short of submersion.
Thermal protection cuts the motor after 5 minutes of continuous run and resets as it cools. Duty cycle sizing matters on long shutters that cycle on a schedule. Draw 1.6 A per motor when you total a circuit, and leave headroom for the 180 W each one pulls while moving. Standby draw sits at 0 W, so a bank of these costs nothing between cycles.
Operating range runs from -13 F to 158 F, which puts northern winters and south-facing stucco inside spec.
Order the motor and the crank together
The Somfy 525A2 RTS CMO 120V motor (1043426) covers a 25 Nm awning or shutter with radio control and a mechanical fallback in one body. Pair it with the crown and drive set your tube calls for, a bracket cut for a CMO head, the override shaft that reaches your crank position, and one RTS remote to set the limits.
Frequently asked questions
What does CMO mean on a Somfy motor?
CMO stands for Compact Manual Override. Somfy builds a small gearbox into the motor head that accepts an override shaft and crank handle. The owner cranks the awning or shutter by hand when power is out. The radio side of the motor keeps working normally once power returns.
Will an LT50 star head bracket hold this motor?
No. The CMO head carries different mounting geometry from the star head used across the rest of the LT50 range. Fit a bracket Somfy specifies for a CMO head. Checking the bracket against the head before the awning goes up saves a second trip up the ladder.
What tube does the 525A2 RTS CMO need?
Somfy publishes a 1.85 in minimum internal diameter for this reference. The motor body measures 1.97 in across and the external diameter sits at 1.77 in. Match the crown and drive set to the tube profile, round or 70mm octagonal, and measure the bore before ordering.
How many remotes can one motor hold?
The receiver stores up to 12 RTS channels, so one awning can answer a handheld remote and a wind sensor at the same time. Rolling code security with 16 million combinations keeps the pairing private. Range reaches 164.05 ft in open field.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
