Short answer: The Somfy Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217) is a 12V, 2600 mAh pack that powers Somfy WireFree external-battery motors such as the Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2 and the Cord Lift WireFree CL32 RTS. It recharges with the Somfy 9025166 plug-in charger in up to six hours, mounts behind the shade, and carries a five year warranty.
Somfy builds two kinds of WireFree motor. One family carries its lithium cell inside the motor tube. The other leaves the power source outside, on a short lead, so the installer picks the power source. The Somfy Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217) serves that second family. Buyers searching for a "somfy external battery pack" are looking for this part.
Motors that take the 9021217 pack
Somfy names the pack "Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (for External Battery Motors)" and lists ten compatible motors on its product page. The list spans RTS and Zigbee motors:
- Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2
- Sonesse 28 WireFree RTS and Sonesse 28 WireFree Zigbee
- Cord Lift WireFree CL32 RTS
- Cord Lift WireFree TLW25 RTS, TLW25 Zigbee and TLV25 Zigbee
- Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft RTS and Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft Zigbee
Two of those motors cover most interior jobs: the Somfy Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2 (External Battery) (1241162) on roller shades and the Somfy Cord Lift WireFree CL32 RTS (External Battery) (1002422) on cellular and pleated headrails. Both draw their power from an external 12V source on a short lead, and the pack is the rechargeable way to supply it.
Check the motor name before you order. A motor sold with "Li-ion" in its title, such as the Sonesse 30 or Sonesse ULTRA 30 WireFree, holds its own cell and has no use for an external pack. Our guide to which Somfy charger, battery or cable fits your motor sorts the two families by part number.
Verified specs for the 9021217
The figures below come from Somfy's product record for reference 9021217 and the Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Pack flyer.
| Somfy reference | 9021217 |
| Chemistry | Rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Nominal voltage | 12V DC |
| Voltage window | 8.4 V minimum, 12.6 V maximum |
| Capacity | 2600 mAh |
| Dimensions | 9.84 x 0.98 x 0.98 in |
| Weight | 0.97 lb |
| Charge time | Up to 6 hours |
| Charger | Somfy Li-ion plug-in charger 9025166 |
| Maximum distance, motor to power source | 16.5 ft (5 m) |
| Operating temperature | 32 to 140 F (0 to 60 C) |
| Ingress protection | IP 20, indoor use only |
| Polarity reversal protection | Yes |
| Mounting hardware | Wall/ceiling brackets and headrail brackets, screws and anchors included |
| Finish | White |
| Warranty | 5 years |
The 9.84 in length is the number that decides placement. Measure the space behind the fascia or inside the headrail before you commit to a mounting style. The 16.5 ft figure sets the longest run Somfy allows between motor and power source.
Mounting the pack behind the shade
Somfy ships two bracket styles in the box: one pair for wall or ceiling mounting and one pair that clips to the headrail. You use one style, not both. Headrail brackets suit cord lift jobs, where the pack rides on the headrail. Wall or ceiling brackets suit a roller shade, where the tube turns and the pack needs a fixed home.
Somfy's instructions call for a full charge before installation. Plan the cable route so the lead stays clear of the fabric and the bottom rail, and leave the motor antenna exposed. An RTS or Zigbee motor needs a clear antenna to hear its remote.
Keep the pack indoors and away from heat. Somfy rates it IP 20 and warns against exposure at or above 140 F. Pick a shaded spot.
Charging the 9021217, step by step
Charge only with the Somfy WireFree Li-ion Plug-in Charger (9025166). Somfy names it as the one approved charger for this pack. These steps follow Somfy's Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack consumer instructions:
- Check whether you can reach the charging port with the pack mounted. If you can, skip to step 4.
- If you cannot reach it, disconnect the battery cable from the motor and lift the pack out of its brackets.
- Attach the charger to the battery charging port.
- Plug the charger into a wall outlet. The charger LED shows red while it charges.
- Wait for the LED to turn green, which means the pack is full, then disconnect the charger.
- Reinstall the pack in its brackets if you removed it.
- Reconnect the battery cable to the motor.
- Confirm the cords stay clear of the moving shade and the motor antenna remains exposed.
Watch the motor LED. A slow-blinking LED on the motor means the pack is low. If the port sits out of reach once the shade is up, Somfy's extension charging cords solve it: the Somfy 8in Extension Ultra Charging Cable (9021131) suits cassette applications, and Somfy also lists a 94.5 in cord (9021016) for longer runs.
Somfy adds two rules worth taping inside the headrail. Never charge the pack during routine maintenance such as window cleaning, and never use a charger other than the 9025166.
Other ways to power the same motors
Somfy offers two other 12V sources for the same external-battery motors.
The Somfy Reloadable 12V DC Battery Wand (9018685) holds eight AA lithium cells. It suits a low-use shade, or a job where no outlet sits nearby for charging. Our battery wand fit guide covers its cell rules and clearances.
The Somfy 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940) runs the motor from an outlet and ends charging for good. It fits windows with a receptacle close to the head of the shade.
The rechargeable pack sits between the two. You avoid buying AA cells, and you keep the clean install of a battery motor with no cord running to the floor.
Choosing the pack for a new install or a retrofit
On a new Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2 shade, order the motor, the 9021217 pack and the 9025166 charger together. One charger serves a whole house of packs, so a six-shade job needs six packs and one charger.
On a retrofit, the pack replaces a wand or a worn pack on a motor that already works. Match the motor name on the label to Somfy's compatible list above, confirm the lead on the motor matches the connector on the pack you receive, and give the new pack a full charge before you plug it in. Our Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2 external battery guide shows the motor side of the same install.
Browse every Somfy charger, wand and supply in our Somfy power, battery and charger collection.
FAQ
What does the Somfy 9021217 battery pack power?
It powers Somfy WireFree external-battery motors. Somfy lists ten, among them the Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2, the Cord Lift WireFree CL32 RTS and TLW25 RTS, the Sonesse 28 WireFree RTS and Zigbee, and the Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft RTS and Zigbee. Motors with a built-in Li-ion cell, such as the Sonesse 30 WireFree, do not use it.
How long does the Somfy rechargeable battery pack take to charge?
Somfy estimates up to six hours for a full charge with the 9025166 plug-in charger. The charger LED shows red while charging and turns green once the pack is full. Somfy asks for a full charge before the first installation, then recharge whenever the motor LED starts a slow blink.
Can I use any 12V charger on the 9021217?
No. Somfy's instructions say to use only the Somfy plug-in charger, part 9025166, and warn that improper charging can cause overheating or fire. The same charger serves the Sonesse ULTRA 30 WireFree motor. Extension cords 9021131 and 9021016 move the charging point without changing the charger.
Is the Somfy battery pack rated for outdoor use?
No. Somfy rates the pack IP 20 for indoor use only, with an operating range of 32 to 140 F. Keep it out of direct heat and moisture, and mount it behind an interior shade or inside a headrail. For exterior shading, choose a Somfy motor built for exterior duty and a power source rated for it.
Sources: Somfy product record for reference 9021217 (somfypro.com e-cat and somfysystems.com), Somfy Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Pack Flyer and Spec 6.10.19, Somfy Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack consumer instructions. Install guides for each motor live in our Somfy spec library.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
