Somfy 535A2 CMO LT50 Motor Fit, Torque and Crank Guide

A power cut on a motorized awning leaves the fabric wherever it sat. The Somfy 535A2 CMO answers that with a Compact Manual Override built into the motor head, so you retract the awning by hand crank with the mains dead. Somfy rates this reference at 35 Nm and 20 rpm, which suits mid-size awnings and rolling shutters running on a 2 inch tube.

The Somfy 535A2 CMO 120V 4-Wire Motor (1047006) sits in the middle of Somfy's wired CMO range, above the 25 Nm and 30 Nm versions and below the 50 Nm. Torque and override access are the two reasons buyers land on this exact part number.

Pick the CMO head when power loss matters

The CMO head sets this motor apart from the rest of the LT50 range. Where a star head or a round head presents a plain mounting pin, the CMO head carries a gearbox stub that accepts a crank eye. That stub changes the bracket you need and the clearance you leave at the motor end of the tube.

Exterior installs drive the demand for CMO. A retractable awning left extended through a storm takes wind load it was never sized for, and a rolling shutter stuck open leaves a glass opening exposed. Somfy's override lets a homeowner wind the shade home with a detachable crank and no tools. The motor keeps its stored limits through the whole operation, so the shade returns to the same stop points once power comes back.

Budget for the crank path during layout. The override shaft needs a straight run from the motor head to a reachable point, and a 100 mm shaft wants the bracket set close to a wall or soffit edge rather than buried behind trim.

Awnings and rolling shutters this motor drives

Somfy publishes two applications for reference 1047006: awnings and rolling shutters. At 35 Nm the motor carries a lateral arm or cassette awning in the 12 to 16 foot projection range, and it handles aluminum rolling shutter curtains on commercial and residential openings. The 20 rpm output gives a steady travel rate that suits long drops without hunting at the limits.

Torque sizing starts at the fabric roll, not the opening width. Weigh the assembled roller with the fabric or slats on it, multiply by the radius at full roll, add the friction of the guide rails or arm springs, then size up one step. A 35 Nm motor on a tube that calls for 30 Nm runs cooler and lasts longer than a 30 Nm motor worked to its ceiling.

Verified specs for reference 1047006

Figures above come from Somfy's published data for reference 1047006 on somfypro.com and the 500 Series databook.

Tube, crown and drive fit

The motor body measures 1.77 in across and Somfy sets the minimum tube inner diameter at 1.85 in. Any tube tighter than that binds the motor and voids the torque rating. Most installers run this motor in a 2 inch round tube or a 70 mm octagonal tube, and the crown and drive set does the adapting.

Two sets cover the common cases. The Somfy LT50 2.5" Round Crown and Drive Set (9012231) seats the motor in a 2.5 inch round tube and gives a clean concentric fit for roller shutter and awning rollers at that size. The Somfy Octagonal LT50 70mm Crown and Drive Set (9012234) handles the 70 mm octagonal tube that shows up on European-profile shutter boxes and many retrofit awnings.

Measure the inside of the tube before ordering a set. A tube stamped 70 mm on the outside can run 66 mm inside once you account for wall thickness, and the crown has to clear that wall without forcing. The drive wheel snaps onto the motor output and transfers torque through the tube's internal keyway or groove, so the groove profile on the drive has to match the profile inside the tube.

Leave the motor end of the tube open enough for the CMO stub. Unlike a plain star head, the CMO head needs room for the crank eye and the override shaft to seat, and a tight pocket forces a bracket change late in the job.

Wiring and limit setup

This is a standard 4-wire motor on 120V AC, 60 Hz. The four conductors give you line, neutral, ground, and the up and down legs that a maintained switch or a relay module feeds. Somfy publishes the cable as type 2464 at 6.56 ft, and the cable detaches at the motor head, which helps when you need to pull a motor out of a finished box without cutting a splice.

Limits are mechanical on this reference, set with the two adjustment screws on the motor head and a setting key. Somfy gives the limit switch unit a capacity of 34 turns. Count the turns your drop needs before you commit: a 10 foot drop on a 2.5 inch tube runs roughly 15 turns, so most awning and shutter applications land inside the 34 turn window with headroom.

A few wiring notes that save callbacks:

• Never parallel two 4-wire motors on one maintained switch without a relay. Back-feed between the up and down legs cooks the switch and the motor windings.
• Bond the ground. This is a Class I motor and it depends on an earth connection for safety compliance.
• Keep the motor inside its duty cycle. Somfy rates 5 minutes of continuous run and the thermal cutout trips at 284 F, so a long commissioning session wants rest breaks between cycles.
• Check voltage at the motor under load. The rated window runs 108 to 126 V, and a long undersized feed drops below that at startup on a loaded roller.

The override shaft completes the install

A CMO motor without an override shaft gives you a gearbox stub and nothing to turn it with. The Somfy CMO Awning Override Shaft, 100mm with Geiger eye (9707287) threads onto the CMO head and presents a Geiger eye that accepts a standard detachable crank handle. Order the shaft with the motor rather than after. A CMO install that arrives on site without one stalls at the bracket stage.

Shaft length sets the crank position. The 100 mm shaft suits a motor mounted close to the wall or inside a shallow cassette, where the crank eye ends up at the face of the hood. Deeper boxes and soffit returns need a longer shaft or an articulated eye to bring the crank within reach of a pole.

Choose the bracket by head geometry rather than by platform name. An LT50 star head plate will not hold a CMO head, and the two parts read alike in a photo. Confirm the bracket against the motor head in hand before you drill.

Frequently asked questions

What tube does the Somfy 535A2 CMO fit?

Somfy sets the minimum tube inner diameter at 1.85 in for reference 1047006. The motor body measures 1.77 in across. Installers run it in 2 inch and 2.5 inch round tubes and in 70 mm octagonal tubes, with the crown and drive set adapting the motor to the tube profile. Measure the inside diameter, not the outside.

How many limit turns does the 535A2 CMO hold?

The limit switch unit holds 34 turns, and the limits are mechanical, set with adjustment screws on the motor head. A 10 foot drop on a 2.5 inch tube uses about 15 turns, so awning and rolling shutter drops land inside that capacity with room to spare. Count turns before you cut the tube.

Can the 535A2 CMO run from a Somfy RTS remote?

Reference 1047006 is a standard 4-wire motor with no radio receiver, so it takes commands from a maintained wired switch or a relay module. Somfy builds the radio version as the 535A2 RTS CMO, reference 1047306, with the same 35 Nm output and the same CMO head. Pick the control type at order time.

Which override shaft fits the 535A2 CMO?

Somfy's CMO awning override shaft, 100 mm with a Geiger eye, part 9707287, threads onto the CMO head and accepts a detachable crank handle. Shaft length depends on how deep the motor sits in the hood or shutter box. A shallow cassette takes the 100 mm shaft, while a deep soffit return needs more reach.

Buyers who land on this motor want 35 Nm with a crank backup on a wired circuit, and that pairing covers most exterior awning and shutter retrofits on the LT50 platform. Order the Somfy 535A2 CMO 120V 4-Wire Motor (1047006) with the crown and drive set that matches your tube and the override shaft that matches your hood depth, and the install goes together in one visit.

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