A retractable awning asks more of a motor than a window shade does. Wind loads it, sun bakes it, and the fabric stretches over seasons until the closed position drifts. The Somfy Sunea 535A2 CMO RTS Motor (1116321) is Somfy's answer for cassette, semi-cassette, and standard awnings, rated at 35 Nm and built around a crank manual override.
Awnings the Sunea 535A2 CMO RTS covers
Somfy lists this motor for cassette, semi-cassette, and standard retractable awnings. The 35 Nm rating, 310 in-lb, handles the folding arm loads that a lateral arm awning puts on the roller as the arms extend and take up spring tension.
Projection matters more than width on an awning. A 12 foot wide unit with a short 8 foot projection loads the roller differently from a narrower awning reaching out 11 feet, because the arm geometry changes the moment at the tube. Awning fabricators publish motor recommendations per frame, and 35 Nm sits in the range that covers most residential lateral arm units.
The motor turns at 20 rpm. An awning at that speed extends at a pace that lets the arms deploy in sequence without snatching the fabric.
Crank manual override on the CMO head
CMO stands for Crank Manual Override in Somfy's naming. The motor accepts a crank bracket and eye at the head, so a homeowner can retract the awning by hand when power is out or a motor is being serviced.
That capability protects the asset. An awning left extended through a storm loses fabric, arms, or the whole frame, and a hand crank gives the owner a way to bring it in when the power is already down. Somfy sells the override hardware as a separate kit, referenced 9012349 in Somfy's catalog, and lists the 535A2 RTS CMO among the motors it fits.
Somfy also builds automatic limit re-adjustment into this motor. As awning fabric settles and stretches over the first seasons, the motor re-settles its closed position so the fabric keeps rolling into the cassette without a service call.
Octagonal tube fit and bracket mounting
Awning rollers usually run octagonal tube rather than the round tube of an interior shade, and the crown and drive set has to match that profile. The Somfy Octagonal LT50 70mm Crown and Drive Set (9012234) covers 70 mm octagonal roller. Frames built on 78 mm tube take Somfy's LT50 DS78MM Crown/Drive Set (9012239) instead.
Measure the flat-to-flat dimension across the octagon, not the corner-to-corner distance. Those two numbers differ by several millimeters, and ordering from the wrong one puts a crown on the bench that will not seat.
At the head, the Somfy Motor Bracket for Sunea CMO RTS, US (9015802) carries the motor in the awning frame and keeps the crank eye positioned where the owner can reach it with a pole.
Remotes, timers, and sensor control
The RTS receiver sits inside the motor, so the awning pairs directly with a Somfy handheld at 433.420 MHz. Somfy publishes 12 radio channels and an open field range of 656 feet, which is generous for a patio installation where the transmitter lives inside the house.
The Somfy Telis 4 RTS Multi-Channel Patio Remote (1810645) is built for outdoor use and drives up to four awnings or screens from one handheld. Owners who want the awning to run itself add the Somfy Telis 1 Chronis RTS Timer (1805237), which retracts and extends on a daily schedule.
Somfy's Soliris sun and wind sensors work on the same RTS platform and add automatic retraction on wind, which is the feature awning owners value most after the first windy afternoon.
Verified specifications
| Somfy reference | 1116321, Sunea RTS CMO 535A2 with 18" fast connector |
| Torque | 35 Nm (310 in-lb) |
| Speed | 20 rpm |
| Power | 120V AC, 60Hz |
| Power consumption | 240 W operating, 0 W standby |
| Motor head | CMO, crank manual override |
| Radio frequency | 433.420 MHz, 12 channels |
| Radio range | 656 ft, open field |
| Noise level | 55 dB |
| Ingress protection | IP 44 |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Figures come from Somfy's own product record for reference 1116321.
Limit setting and fabric stretch
Set the extended limit so the arms reach full extension without driving hard into the stops. Set the retracted limit so the fabric rolls into the cassette and the front bar seats against the housing. Somfy's automatic re-adjustment then takes over as the fabric relaxes over the first season.
The motor keeps its settings in memory, so a power cut does not send an installer back to reprogram limits. Electronic obstacle detection stops travel if something blocks the fabric on the way in, which protects the arms and the front bar.
Somfy rates the motor IP 44 for the outdoor environment. Run the lead so water sheds away from the connector rather than pooling at it, and leave a drip loop below the entry point.
Completing the awning kit
Order the motor, the crown and drive set matched to your octagonal tube, the Sunea CMO bracket, and a control the owner will use. Add the override kit if the frame did not ship with a crank eye.
The Somfy Sunea 535A2 CMO RTS Motor (1116321) ships with an 18 inch fast connector lead and Somfy's five year warranty. The product page carries the Sunea RTS CMO spec sheet, the quick reference guide, and the 500 Series Databook.
Frequently asked questions
What does CMO mean on a Somfy awning motor?
CMO stands for Crank Manual Override. Somfy builds the motor to accept a crank bracket and awning eye at the head, so an owner can retract the awning by hand during a power outage or a service visit. Somfy sells the hardware as an override kit and lists the 535A2 RTS CMO among the motors it fits.
How much torque does a cassette awning motor need?
The Sunea 535A2 delivers 35 Nm, or 310 in-lb, at 20 rpm, which covers most residential lateral arm awnings. Arm projection loads the roller more than width alone does, since the arm geometry changes the moment at the tube. Check the awning fabricator's motor recommendation for the specific frame before ordering.
Does the Sunea 535A2 CMO RTS work with a wind sensor?
Yes. The motor carries a built-in RTS receiver at 433.420 MHz, and Somfy's Soliris sun and wind sensors run on the same platform. The awning retracts automatically when wind reaches the threshold set at the sensor. Owners can pair a Telis patio remote and a Chronis timer to the same motor alongside the sensor.
What crown and drive fits an octagonal awning tube?
Match the crown and drive to the flat-to-flat dimension of the octagon. Somfy's 70 mm octagonal LT50 crown and drive set covers 70 mm roller tube, and the DS78MM set covers 78 mm tube. Measure across the flats rather than corner to corner, since those two measurements differ by several millimeters.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
