Short answer: A Somfy CMO motor is an LT50 or LT60 tubular awning motor with a Compact Manual Override built into the head. A crank shaft couples to that head, so you can roll the awning in by hand when the power is out. Somfy builds CMO versions with RTS radio inside or as wired 4-wire motors, from 25 Nm up to 100 Nm.
CMO is Somfy's own term, short for Compact Manual Override. Somfy describes the LT50 CMO range as motors with "a compact manual override (CMO) allowing operation in the event of a power failure." The rest of the motor is a standard Somfy LT50 or LT60: same tube sizes, same 120V AC supply, same IP 44 weather rating. The difference sits at the head, and it changes which bracket and override parts you order.
The job the CMO head does on an awning
A standard awning motor mounts its head into a bracket and nothing else touches it. A CMO head has a second job. It carries an override output that accepts a 7 mm hex or 6 mm square shaft, per Somfy's LT50 RTS CMO spec sheet. That shaft passes through the awning's end bracket and finishes in an eye. An awning crank handle hooks into the eye, and turning it drives the tube through the motor.
The reason buyers pick CMO is storm season. A retractable awning left out in a power cut takes wind load on the fabric and arms. With a CMO motor, someone at the window can crank it home. Somfy positions its RTS CMO motors for awnings and rolling shutters, and lists them among its picks for hurricane shutters.
Somfy's CMO Awning Override Shaft, 100 mm with Geiger Eye (9707287) is the part that does this on most US awnings. Somfy lists it for 17 CMO motors, from the 525A2 CMO through the LT60 6100R2 CMO, including the Sunea range.
Somfy CMO motor families
Somfy splits the CMO line three ways. Pick the branch by how the awning is controlled, then pick the torque.
- RTS CMO (3-wire, radio inside). Hot, neutral and ground, with the RTS receiver in the motor tube. Pairs straight to a Telis, Situo or DecoFlex. Somfy lists 433.420 MHz and 12 channels on these refs.
- Sunea RTS CMO. Somfy calls Sunea its universal awning motor for cassette, semi-cassette and standard awnings. It carries RTS inside, an 18 in Fast Connector cable, 55 dB and 240 W in operation.
- Wired CMO (4-wire). No receiver. Up and down conductors run to a wall switch, a group control or a separate receiver. Somfy lists mechanical limits with a 34-turn capacity.
- LT60 CMO. The 660R2, 680R2 and 6100R2 CMO for loads past 50 Nm, on a larger tube.
Torque, speed and part numbers in the LT50 CMO range
Somfy prints the torque in the model code. The first digit is the platform (5 for LT50, 6 for LT60) and the next two give newton-meters. The letter and last digit track the speed band.
| Model | Torque | Speed | RTS CMO ref | Wired CMO ref |
| 525A2 | 25 Nm (221 in-lb) | 20 rpm | 1043426 | 1043010 |
| 530R2 | 30 Nm (266 in-lb) | 14 rpm | 1051476 | 1045017 |
| 535A2 | 35 Nm (310 in-lb) | 20 rpm | 1047306 | 1047006 |
| 540R2 | 40 Nm (354 in-lb) | 14 rpm | 1051477 | 1049026 |
| 550R2 | 50 Nm (443 in-lb) | 14 rpm | 1051466 | 1051014 |
Shared figures across the LT50 CMO motors: 120V AC, 60Hz supply, IP 44, Class I insulation, a 1.85 in (47 mm) minimum tube inside diameter, and a 34-turn limit capacity. The 550R2 draws 2.1 A and 250 W; the 525A2 CMO draws 1.6 A and 180 W. Somfy's 5-year warranty covers the range.
For the two most-ordered torques, the Somfy 535A2 RTS CMO 120V 3-Wire Motor (1047306) suits medium retractable awnings at 35 Nm and 20 rpm, and the Somfy 550R2 RTS CMO (1051466) covers wide, long-projection awnings at 50 Nm and 14 rpm.
RTS CMO, Sunea or wired CMO: how to choose
Start with the control the homeowner wants. An RTS CMO motor needs a 120V feed and a remote, nothing more. That makes it the default for a new patio awning with a Somfy wind sensor, since Eolis and Soliris sensors pair to the motor over RTS.
Sunea suits cassette and semi-cassette awnings where the 18 in Fast Connector speeds up the cable run inside the cassette. The Somfy Sunea 535A2 CMO RTS 120V Motor (1116321) and the Somfy Sunea 550R2 CMO RTS 120V Motor (1118210) cover the 35 Nm and 50 Nm points.
Wired CMO fits jobs already run on a wall switch or a central control, or a commercial row of awnings on group control. The Somfy 525A2 CMO 120V 4-Wire Motor (1043010) is the 25 Nm entry point. Wired CMO motors use mechanical limits, and Somfy sells a CMO Motor Limit Setting Tool for them.
Past 50 Nm the LT50 tops out. The Somfy LT60 680R2 CMO 120V 4-Wire Motor (1164013) delivers 80 Nm (708 in-lb) and needs a 2.37 in minimum tube inside diameter, so the crowns and drives change with it. Our LT50 vs LT60 comparison covers that step.
Brackets and override parts a CMO motor needs
A CMO head will not seat in a star bracket built for a standard Altus head. Order the bracket for the CMO head at the same time as the motor.
- Motor bracket. Somfy's Sunea RTS CMO Universal Bracket (9015802) holds up to 50 Nm and ships with two screws. Somfy lists it for the Sunea CMO motors and the wired 525A2, 530R2, 535A2, 540R2 and 550R2 CMO.
- Override shaft. The 100 mm shaft with Geiger eye (9707287) is the common length. Somfy also lists a 170 mm shaft and a plain 100 mm shaft for deeper or different end brackets.
- Override kit. Somfy's CMO Awning Override Kit (U.S. Threads), ref 9012348, bundles a motor bracket and awning eye hardware for the LT50 and LT60 CMO range.
- Crown and drive. These follow the tube, as on any LT50. Match the profile and inside diameter of the awning's roller tube.
Measure the distance from the bracket face to the outside of the awning frame before picking a shaft length. The eye needs to sit where a crank handle can reach it.
Replacing an existing CMO awning motor
Read the old motor's label first. The model code (for example 535A2) gives the torque and speed, and the label shows whether the head is CMO and whether the motor has RTS inside. Our guide to replacing a Somfy awning motor walks through that label, the tube check and the bracket match.
Keep the same torque or step up one band. A CMO replacement for a CMO motor lets the existing override shaft and bracket carry over, provided they match Somfy's compatibility list for the new ref. Buyers adding a motor to an awning with no motor at all can start with how to choose a Somfy motor for a retractable awning.
The full range sits in our Somfy awning and exterior motors collection, and the install guide for each ref is in the spec library.
Frequently asked questions
What does CMO mean on a Somfy motor?
CMO stands for Compact Manual Override, Somfy's name for an override output built into the motor head. A 7 mm hex or 6 mm square shaft couples to it, and a crank handle on that shaft turns the tube by hand. Somfy offers it on LT50 motors from 25 to 50 Nm and on LT60 motors up to 100 Nm, in RTS and wired versions.
Can I crank a Somfy CMO awning in during a power outage?
Yes. Somfy describes the CMO as letting you operate the awning manually when power is not available. You need the override shaft fitted through the awning end bracket, such as the 100 mm shaft with Geiger eye (9707287), plus a crank handle that hooks into the eye. Without the shaft installed, the CMO head has nothing to turn.
Does a CMO motor use the same bracket as a standard Altus RTS motor?
No. A CMO head has a different shape from the star head on a standard Altus RTS motor, and a star bracket will not hold it. Use a bracket Somfy lists for the CMO ref, such as the Sunea RTS CMO Universal Bracket (9015802), rated to 50 Nm, or the bracket inside Somfy's CMO Awning Override Kit (9012348).
Is a Somfy RTS CMO motor compatible with wind sensors?
Yes. An RTS CMO motor has the RTS receiver inside, so Somfy's RTS wind and sun sensors such as Eolis and Soliris pair to it through the motor's PROG step, as a remote does. Wired 4-wire CMO motors have no receiver, so they need a separate Somfy receiver or a wired control before a radio sensor can drive them.
Sources: Somfy LT50 RTS CMO spec sheet D-0029; somfysystems.com product pages for 535A2 RTS CMO (1047306), Sunea RTS CMO 535A2 (1116321), CMO Awning Override Shaft with Geiger Eye (9707287), Sunea RTS CMO Universal Bracket (9015802) and CMO Awning Override Kit (9012348); somfypro.com e-cat pages for 550R2 CMO (1051014) and 525A2 CMO (1043010).
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
