Short answer: Every Somfy WireFree Li-ion motor recharges in place, so the choice comes down to shade weight, control and charger. Pick the Roll Up 24 for small shades (0.55 Nm), a Roll Up 28 or Sonesse 28 for light ones (1.1 Nm), the Sonesse ULTRA 30 for mid-size fabric (2 Nm) and a Sonesse 40 WireFree for the heaviest (3 Nm RTS, 4 Nm Zigbee).
Built-in battery or external pack?
Somfy builds rechargeable power two ways. A Li-ion motor carries its cell inside the motor body, so the shade has nothing else to hide. You plug a charger into the motor head, wait a few hours, and the shade runs for months. Roller shades suit this layout best because the whole drive disappears inside the tube.
An external battery motor keeps the cell in a separate pack mounted in the headrail or behind the fascia. Cellular cord lift motors and tilt motors use this layout because their headrails have room for a pack and no tube to hold one. Somfy lists the Somfy Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217) for use with all external Zigbee and RTS battery motors, which makes those motors rechargeable too. Somfy also offers a reloadable AA wand for the same motors if you prefer disposable cells.
Both routes skip the electrician. The difference is where the battery lives and what you plug the charger into.
Match torque to the shade first
Torque decides whether the motor lifts the shade at all. A heavy blackout fabric on a wide window needs more than a sheer on a bathroom window, and an undersized motor strains and drains its battery faster. Size the shade first, then read the table. The figures below come from Somfy's WireFree Databook.
| Motor (ref) | Torque | Speed | Battery | Charge time | Typical recharge | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roll Up 24 WireFree RTS Li-ion (1240278) | 0.55 Nm | 38 rpm (20 to 38) | Built-in, 800 mAh | Under 4.5 hrs | Twice a year | RTS |
| Roll Up 28 WireFree RTS V2 Li-ion (1241150) | 1.1 Nm | 20 rpm (10 to 28) | Built-in, 2600 mAh | 4.5 hrs | Once a year | RTS |
| Sonesse 28 WireFree RTS Li-ion (1003297) | 1.1 Nm | 20 rpm (10 to 28) | Built-in, 2600 mAh | 4.5 hrs | Once a year | RTS |
| Sonesse ULTRA 30 WireFree RTS Li-ion (1003310) | 2 Nm | 20 rpm (10 to 28) | Built-in, 2600 mAh | 4.5 hrs | Once a year | RTS |
| Sonesse 40 WireFree RTS Li-ion (1240485) | 3 Nm | 20 rpm (10 to 28) | Built-in, 4600 mAh | 8 hrs | Once a year | RTS |
| Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee Li-ion USB-C (1245993) | 4 Nm | 20 rpm (10 to 28) | Built-in, 5000 mAh | 4 hrs (USB-C charger) | Once a year | Zigbee 3.0 |
Somfy bases the recharge figures on an average shade size and one cycle per day. A big shade that runs four times a day will need the charger sooner. Use our WireFree versus wired motor guide if the shade sits near the top of this torque range, since a wired motor removes the ceiling entirely.
Picking a motor by shade size
Small and light shades, such as a sheer on a narrow window, fit the Roll Up 24. Its 0.55 Nm motor runs fast at up to 38 rpm and carries the smallest battery of the group, so plan on two charges a year.
The 28 mm motors cover the middle of the market. The Roll Up 28 V2 and the Sonesse 28 both deliver 1.1 Nm with a 2600 mAh cell.
Step up to the Sonesse ULTRA 30 at 2 Nm once the fabric gets heavier or the shade gets wider. It keeps the same battery and charge time as the 28 mm motors.
The Sonesse 40 pair handles the heaviest rechargeable jobs. The RTS version gives 3 Nm with a 4600 mAh cell that takes about 8 hours to fill. The Zigbee version gives 4 Nm, holds 5000 mAh and charges in about 4 hours on its USB-C charger. Both need a 40 mm tube system.
RTS or Zigbee on a rechargeable motor
The motor's radio decides which remotes and hubs it answers. RTS motors pair with Somfy RTS remotes, wall switches, Chronis timers and the TaHoma switch. Zigbee 3.0 motors pair with Zigbee controls, and the Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee also lists Bluetooth 4.2 in the databook.
Choose RTS when the house already has RTS remotes or you want a remote in hand on day one. Choose Zigbee when the TaHoma app will run the shades and you want the motor to report back to the hub. Neither radio changes the battery or the torque. Somfy publishes the same once-a-year recharge rating for both.
One rule never bends. RTS remotes do not pair with a Zigbee motor, and Zigbee remotes do not pair with an RTS motor. Order the control that matches the motor's radio.
The charger has to match the motor
Somfy has shipped more than one charging generation, and the plugs differ. Order by the motor reference, never by whichever cable looks close.
- V2 Li-ion motors, Zigbee and RTS, and the 9021217 battery pack charge from the Somfy WireFree Li-ion plug-in charger (9025166).
- USB-C Zigbee motors, such as the Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee 1245993, charge from the Somfy USB-C Li-ion Fast Charger with Cable (9028923).
- The 9028923 charger does not serve the 9021217 pack or V2-head motors.
- Extension charging cables let you reach a motor at the top of a tall window without taking the shade down. Our WireFree batteries, chargers and cables guide maps each cable to its motor.
Cut the charging trips with solar
A shade that sits high above a stairwell or behind furniture is a chore to charge. The Somfy WireFree Li-ion Solar Panel Kit (9027294) mounts on the window glass and trickle-charges a V2 Li-ion motor through the day. The kit ships with mounting brackets and glass mount adhesive. USB-C motors use a separate USB-C solar panel.
Solar works best on windows that get direct sun through the glass. Our Somfy solar panel guide covers panel placement and glass type.
Fit checks before you order
Somfy builds these WireFree roller motors for interior shades, so a porch or patio shade needs an exterior motor instead. Inside the house, four checks decide the order:
- Measure the tube's inside diameter and profile. The 28 and 30 mm motors use 28/30 mm crowns and drives, and 40 mm parts will not seat on them.
- Weigh or estimate the shade, then pick torque from the table with some margin.
- Confirm the radio your remotes or hub already use, RTS or Zigbee.
- Order the charger named for that motor, plus an extension cable or solar kit if the motor sits out of reach.
Replacing an existing battery motor? Read the reference number on the old motor's label and match it, then browse the full range of Somfy WireFree and battery motors. Our team at 859-414-6872 can confirm a fit from the label, 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM ET.
FAQ
Are Somfy WireFree motors rechargeable?
Yes. Li-ion WireFree motors carry a rechargeable cell inside the motor and charge in place from a Somfy charger. External battery motors run from a separate pack, and the Somfy 9021217 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack makes those rechargeable too. Somfy rates most of these motors for about one recharge per year at one cycle per day on an average shade.
How long does a Somfy rechargeable motor take to charge?
Somfy publishes about 4.5 hours for the Roll Up 28 V2, Sonesse 28 and Sonesse ULTRA 30 WireFree RTS motors, under 4.5 hours for the Roll Up 24, and about 8 hours for the Sonesse 40 WireFree RTS. The Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee USB-C charges in about 4 hours on the USB-C charger.
Can I use one charger for every Somfy battery motor?
No. Somfy lists the 9025166 plug-in charger for V2 Li-ion motors and the 9021217 battery pack. USB-C Zigbee motors, such as the Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee 1245993, use the 9028923 USB-C charger, and that charger does not serve V2-head motors or the 9021217 pack. Order the charger listed for your motor reference.
What is the strongest Somfy rechargeable roller shade motor?
The Sonesse 40 WireFree Zigbee Li-ion USB-C (1245993) leads the rechargeable roller range at 4 Nm, with a 5000 mAh battery. The Sonesse 40 WireFree RTS Li-ion (1240485) gives 3 Nm for homes on RTS controls. Both use a 40 mm tube system. Shades heavier than that call for a wired Somfy motor.
Sources: Somfy WireFree Databook (July 2026 edition), including motor specifications, battery life footnotes and charging accessory tables; Somfy Pro product pages for 1240278, 1241150, 1003297, 1003310, 1240485, 1245993, 9021217, 9025166, 9028923 and 9027294. Install guides for each motor live in our Somfy spec library.
