Two measurements decide a Somfy DMI5 order: the inside diameter of the tube you plan to drive, and the plate the motor head lands on at the end of the box. Somfy builds the DMI5 as a 50 mm operator rated at 50 Nm and 12 rpm, and publishes a minimum internal tube diameter of 47 mm. Take both numbers off the job before the motor ships.
The DMI5 sits in the heavy end of Somfy's wired range. Torque of 50 Nm works out to roughly 442 in-lb, which covers wide exterior awnings and rolling shutters that a 20 Nm or 30 Nm operator would strain against. Somfy offers the same DMI5 body at 10, 20, 30, and 50 Nm, so the 50 Nm reference is the one installers reach for on the largest openings in the family.
The two measurements that decide a DMI5 order
Measure the tube first. Somfy publishes a minimum internal tube diameter of 47 mm for this motor, and the crown and drive you select translate that motor body to your tube profile. A DS 78 mm round tube and a 60 mm octagonal shutter tube each want their own crown and drive pair. Order the motor and that pair together so the parts arrive as one set.
Measure the mounting point second. Somfy lists the DMI5 head type as CMO, which stands for crank manual override. That head accepts a crank so the shade or shutter still moves during a power outage, and it needs a bracket that clears the override eye. Shops that mount into an existing 100 mm square plate and shops that mount into a round pocket take different brackets, and both options are stocked.
Awnings and rolling shutters this motor drives
Somfy lists two applications for the DMI5 50 Nm: awnings and rolling shutters. The IP44 rating and the operating range of minus 20 C to 70 C put it outdoors year round, which is where the DMI series earns its keep. A retractable awning on a south wall in Phoenix and a security shutter on a storefront in Buffalo both sit inside that envelope.
Noise measures 57 dB. Exterior hardware rarely gets judged on sound the way an interior roller shade does, and 57 dB reads as normal for a 50 Nm exterior operator running against a heavy slat curtain. Power draw during operation reaches 80 W with a rated current of 0.8 A. Standby draw sits at 0 W, so a bank of DMI5 motors adds nothing to the panel between cycles.
Somfy verified specifications
| Torque | 50 Nm (about 442 in-lb) |
| Speed | 12 rpm |
| Head type | CMO (crank manual override) |
| Limit switch | Mechanical, 28 turn capacity |
| Motor diameter | 50 mm |
| Minimum internal tube diameter | 47 mm |
| Power supply | 120V / 60 Hz AC, range 108V to 126V |
| Power consumption | 80 W operating, 0 W standby |
| Rated current | 0.8 A |
| Noise level | 57 dB |
| Protection rating | IP44, Class I |
| Operating temperature | -20 C to 70 C |
| Cable | VVF, 2.5 m, white, 4 wire, 0.75 mm2, stripped ends |
| Control | Wired, external switch or controller |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Every number above comes from Somfy's own published data for reference 2000776. Torque and speed pair the way Somfy intends: 12 rpm keeps a heavy shutter curtain under control on the way down, and the 50 Nm output starts that curtain from a dead stop without hunting.
Brackets and mounting plates for the DMI5
The CMO head needs a bracket built for the DMI operator family. The Somfy Simu DMI Motor Bracket Plate, 100mm x 100mm (9706034) handles the common case, a square plate that bolts into a shutter box end or a fabricated steel angle. Its 100 mm footprint gives an installer room to shim the motor line up against a tube that runs out of level across a wide opening.
Round pockets and cast end plates call for the Somfy Simu DMI Bracket, 1-Piece Round Adjustable Cast Plate (9420647). The adjustable pattern lets a crew set the motor centerline after the box goes up, which saves a return trip when the framing moved during install. Retrofit work into an existing 80 mm square pocket takes the Somfy Simu T5 Operator Bracket, 80mm x 80mm Square (9520049), the same 50 mm operator interface in a smaller plate.
Wiring and limit setting on a 4-wire motor
The DMI5 ships with a 2.5 m VVF cable carrying four conductors at 0.75 mm2 with stripped ends. Somfy builds this motor as a wired operator with no radio receiver inside the tube, so control comes from a hardwired switch, a relay, or a dry contact interface upstream. An RTS handheld remote will not reach it. Crews adding radio control to a DMI5 run put a Somfy RTS receiver on the line side of the motor and switch the load there.
Limits work mechanically. Somfy rates the limit switch at 28 turns of capacity, and an installer sets the up and down stops with the adjustment screws on the motor head using the setting key. That mechanical design keeps the limits where you left them through a power loss, a common condition on the exterior openings this motor serves. Run the tube by hand through the full travel before the fabric or the slat curtain goes on, then dial the stops and cycle twice under load.
Class I insulation means the installation needs a ground. Land the ground conductor at the box and confirm continuity before energizing, since the IP44 rating protects the motor from splashing water and not from a floating chassis.
Pairing the DMI5 with the right parts
Order the Somfy DMI5 50Nm 12rpm 120V (2000776) with the bracket that matches your box, and add the crown and drive set that matches your tube profile. Somfy sells the DMI5 across four torque ratings, and dropping to a 30 Nm or 20 Nm reference on a smaller shutter saves cost without changing the bracket or the wiring pattern. Crews standardizing a multi opening job often carry one bracket type across the whole run and vary the motor torque opening by opening.
Frequently asked questions
What tube size does the Somfy DMI5 50 Nm motor fit?
Somfy publishes a minimum internal tube diameter of 47 mm for reference 2000776, with a motor body diameter of 50 mm. The crown and drive set you choose adapts the motor to your specific tube profile, whether that is a round DS 78 mm tube or an octagonal shutter tube. Order the crown and drive with the motor.
Does the DMI5 work with a Somfy RTS remote?
The DMI5 carries no radio receiver inside the tube. Somfy builds it as a wired 4-wire operator that runs from a hardwired switch or controller. Adding a Somfy RTS receiver upstream of the motor gives a DMI5 run remote control, with the receiver switching the line voltage to the motor.
What does CMO mean on the DMI5 head?
CMO stands for crank manual override. Somfy lists CMO as the head type for the DMI5 50 Nm motor, which means the head accepts a hand crank so an operator can move the awning or shutter during a power outage. Brackets for this motor clear the override eye so the crank seats without interference.
How much torque does the DMI5 50 Nm deliver in inch-pounds?
Somfy rates the motor at 50 Nm, which converts to about 442 in-lb. That output at 12 rpm suits wide retractable awnings and heavy rolling shutter curtains. Somfy offers the same DMI5 body at 10, 20, and 30 Nm for lighter exterior openings that need the same bracket and wiring pattern.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
