An installer sizing a commercial roller shade job reaches the control question early. The Somfy Sonesse 50 535A2 RS485 SDN 120V Motor (1002288) answers it with a wired, two-way link to the Somfy Digital Network. You address the motor, poll its position, and drive a full floor of shades from one controller. The 535A2 turns 35 Nm (310 in-lb) on the Sonesse 50 tube platform, so it moves wide interior roller shades and projection screens that a smaller motor stalls on.
The Sonesse 50 535A2 and the shades it drives
The Sonesse 50 535A2 runs interior roller shades, roller blinds, and front-projection screens. Its 35 Nm rating covers tall and wide shades that a Sonesse 30 or a 6 Nm motor cannot turn. The Sonesse platform stays quiet in occupied rooms, and the RS485 line reports each shade's position back to the head end. A facilities team sends one close command to a west elevation at 3 p.m., then reads back which shades acknowledged. That two-way confirmation is the reason specifiers reach for the Sonesse 50 RS485 line on office, hotel, school, and multi-family projects.
Torque is the number that decides the fit. Shade weight climbs with width, drop, and fabric density, and a blackout fabric on a 10 foot roller loads a motor far harder than a light screen cloth. The 535A2 gives an installer headroom on those larger openings. For a room full of matched shades, the same motor across every window keeps travel speed even at 20 rpm, so a bank of shades lands in a straight line.
Verified specifications
| Torque / Speed | 35 Nm (310 in-lb) / 20 rpm |
| Control | RS485 two-way, Somfy Digital Network (SDN) |
| Power supply | 120V AC, 60Hz |
| Power draw | 250 W operating, 0.5 W standby |
| Noise level | 55 dB |
| Protection index | IP44 |
| Minimum tube inside diameter | Above 47 mm (1.85 in) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
The torque, speed, noise, and IP figures come from Somfy's own published data for part 1002288. The 55 dB rating and the IP44 protection index sit above what the store spec table listed, so the numbers here are the ones to size against.
Tube, crown, and drive
The 535A2 seats in roller tubes with an interior diameter above 47 mm, which puts nominal 2 inch and larger tubes in range. Match the tube profile to a Somfy crown and drive set so the motor locks to the tube and the idler carries the far end. For 70 mm octagonal tube, the Somfy Octagonal LT50 70mm Crown and Drive Set (9012234) pairs the drive wheel and crown to that extrusion. The crown fixes the motor head against rotation while the drive transfers torque into the tube, and a mismatched set slips under load, so this pairing is worth confirming before the tube is cut.
Brackets that carry the head
The motor head needs a bracket that holds the crown square to the tube. The Somfy LT50 Universal Motor Bracket (9410665) accepts the Sonesse 50 head and mounts to a wide range of pocket and face-fix conditions. Set the bracket depth so the tube clears the fascia and the fabric hangs clean, then check that the idler end sits at the same height. A head that mounts a few millimeters proud of the idler puts the tube out of level, and the shade tracks to one side over a long drop.
Control and building integration
The 535A2 speaks RS485 on the Somfy Digital Network, so it wires into SDN keypads, touchscreens, and building-management gateways. Somfy's animeo IP total solar management system reads the same protocol, which lets the shades join a daylight and glare control scheme across a whole facade. To commission the line from a laptop, the Somfy USB to RS485 Adaptor for SDN (9015260) connects a PC to the bus for addressing and limit setting. Each motor takes a unique address, and the two-way channel confirms that a command reached its target rather than assuming it did.
Position feedback on a large install
Two-way control changes how a large shade system gets maintained. On a one-way radio motor, a controller sends a command and trusts that every shade obeyed. The 535A2 reports back, so a head-end screen shows which shades reached their target and which stalled. A facilities manager spots a shade that stopped short before a tenant calls about the glare. That feedback also shortens commissioning, since a tech confirms each address responds without walking to every window. On a tower with hundreds of shades, the gap between guessing and knowing gets measured in service hours. The Somfy Digital Network carries that status on the same RS485 pair that carries the drive commands, so the wiring stays clean even as the motor count climbs.
Commissioning notes an installer asks about
Set the limits before the fabric goes on, then confirm them with the shade hung. The Somfy RS485 Setting Tool (9017142) gives a field tech a handheld way to address motors, set upper and lower stops, and group shades without a laptop on site. Plan the address map before the first motor powers up, because a clean numbering scheme across floors saves hours when a scene needs editing later. Run the RS485 cable in a daisy chain and keep the run inside Somfy's stated length, and the bus stays stable across a large install.
Ready to spec it into a job? The Somfy Sonesse 50 535A2 RS485 SDN 120V Motor (1002288) is the wired two-way motor for commercial interior shades that need position feedback and central control.
Frequently asked questions
What torque does the Sonesse 50 535A2 produce?
The 535A2 is rated at 35 Nm, which converts to 310 in-lb, and it runs at 20 rpm. That torque suits wide and tall interior roller shades, blinds, and projection screens. The 35 Nm rating gives an installer headroom on heavy blackout fabric and long drops where a lower-torque motor would strain.
Does this motor need a hub or does it wire directly?
The 535A2 wires directly onto an RS485 bus as part of the Somfy Digital Network. It connects to SDN keypads, touchscreens, and building-management gateways over that two-way line, and animeo IP reads the same protocol. No separate radio hub is required for wired SDN control.
What tube fits the Sonesse 50 535A2?
The motor needs a tube with an interior diameter above 47 mm, so nominal 2 inch and larger roller tubes accept it. Pair the tube with a matching Somfy crown and drive set, such as the octagonal LT50 70mm set for 70 mm octagonal extrusion, so the drive transfers torque without slipping.
How loud is the Sonesse 50 535A2?
Somfy publishes a 55 dB noise level for part 1002288 and an IP44 protection index. The Sonesse platform is built for occupied interior rooms, and the 55 dB figure is the number to plan around for conference rooms and guest rooms where sound carries.
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