A 2 in horizontal blind raises on lift cords and tilts on a shaft. Somfy built the Zigbee Tilt 50 Shaft Thru 12V Motor (1241783) for the tilt half of that job. The motor slides onto the tilt shaft inside the headrail, draws power from an external battery pack or a plug-in supply, and answers Zigbee 3.0 commands. Somfy names the product Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft Zigbee (External Battery), and the reference on the e-catalog page matches the SKU on this listing.
Blinds this motor drives
Somfy lists one application for reference 1241783: interior window coverings, blinds. That covers 2 in wood, faux wood, and aluminum horizontal blinds built around a through-shaft tilt mechanism. The motor turns the shaft that rotates the ladder tapes, so the slats open and close on command. Lift stays manual unless a second motor handles the cords.
Torque sits at 1 Nm, which converts to 8.85 in-lb, and the shaft turns at 10 rpm. That pairing suits the slow quarter turn a blind needs. Somfy rates the motor at 49 dB and IP 20, so it belongs inside a conditioned room rather than a porch or an exterior opening. Weight comes in at 0.66 lb, and the body measures 4.06 in by 1.93 in by 1.22 in, small enough to hide inside most 2 in headrails.
Through-shaft adaptors decide the fit
The motor body is one half of the fitment question. Shaft profile is the other. Blind makers cut tilt shafts in several shapes and sizes, and Somfy sells a color coded adaptor for each one. The catalog carries a 6mm hexagonal adaptor in black, a 5mm hexagonal adaptor in cream, a 6mm square adaptor in grey, a 6.4mm square adaptor in black, a 4mm square adaptor in orange, and a 4mm D-shape adaptor in green.
Measure the existing shaft across the flats with a caliper before you order. A hex shaft and a square shaft of the same nominal size take different adaptors, and the D-shape profile takes its own. The Tilt 50 6mm Hexagonal Through-Shaft Adaptor (9025928) covers the most common profile on 2 in faux wood product. Installers who service mixed inventory keep two or three adaptor sizes on the truck.
Verified specifications
Every figure below comes from the Somfy Pro e-catalog page for reference 1241783.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Official name | Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft Zigbee (External Battery) |
| Torque | 1 Nm (8.85 in-lb) |
| Speed | 10 rpm |
| Power supply | 12V DC |
| Rated current | 0.45 A |
| Power in operation | 5.4 W |
| Standby power | 0.094 W |
| Control | Zigbee 3.0, 2.450 GHz |
| Radio range | 492.15 ft open field |
| Sound level | 49 dB |
| Ingress protection | IP 20 |
| Protection class | Class III |
| Limit switch | Electronic |
| Dimensions | 4.06 x 1.93 x 1.22 in |
| Weight | 0.66 lb |
| Operating temperature | 32 to 140 F |
| Storage temperature | -4 to 140 F |
| Application | Interior window coverings, blinds |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Power options for an external battery motor
Somfy splits its WireFree line into motors with a cell inside the tube and motors that take power from outside. Reference 1241783 sits in the second group, and the name says so. Nothing ships inside the headrail to run it, which means you order the power source with the motor.
The Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217) mounts above or beside the headrail and recharges in place. Rooms with an outlet near the window take the 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940) instead, which removes the recharge cycle from the maintenance list. Somfy also lists a solar panel as a supply option for this motor. At 0.45 A in operation and 0.094 W in standby, a tilt motor sips power next to a roller motor lifting fabric, so battery intervals stretch long on blinds that move twice a day.
Zigbee control and the TaHoma path
Zigbee 3.0 gives this motor two-way communication and mesh behavior. Each powered Zigbee device on the network repeats traffic, so a row of blinds strengthens coverage as it grows. Somfy publishes 492.15 ft of open field range at 2.450 GHz, and walls trim that figure in a real building.
The TaHoma Switch RTS and Zigbee Smart Hub (1871037) pairs the motor into the TaHoma app, where you set scenes, schedules, and voice control. A single hub covers RTS and Zigbee products together, which matters in a house where roller shades run on RTS and the blinds run on Zigbee. Somfy handles firmware for both radios through the same app.
Install and setup notes
Electronic limits hold the open and closed tilt positions, and the motor keeps them through a power interruption. Mounting starts at the headrail bracket. Somfy sells a through-shaft headrail adapter for the standard aluminum rail and a separate faux wood headrail adapter for the deeper profile, and the adapter you need follows the blind rather than the motor.
Run four checks before the blind goes back on the window. Confirm the shaft adaptor seats flush with no side play. Confirm the motor body clears the lift cord path inside the rail. Confirm the battery pack or supply cable exits where the valance will cover it. Confirm the tilt travel stops short of binding at both ends. Installers who skip the cable check end up pulling the blind down a second time.
Class III and IP 20 keep this motor on interior openings. Bathrooms with heavy steam and unconditioned sunrooms call for a different Somfy product.
Shade Motors Direct stocks the Somfy Zigbee Tilt 50 Shaft Thru 12V Motor (1241783) with the adaptors, headrail hardware, and power sources that complete the kit. Pair it with the battery pack for a retrofit where no outlet sits near the window, or with the plug-in supply on new construction where the electrician can drop power behind the valance. Somfy backs the motor for 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Tilt 50 Zigbee motor raise the blind?
No. Reference 1241783 turns the tilt shaft and rotates the slats. Lift cords stay manual on a tilt-only install. Somfy builds separate motors for the lift function, and the two run as independent products on the same blind.
Which battery does this motor use?
Somfy lists this reference as an external battery motor, so no cell ships inside it. The Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack 9021217 mounts outside the headrail and feeds the motor 12V DC. A plug-in 12V DC supply and a solar panel serve the same role.
Will it work with a TaHoma Switch?
Yes. The motor speaks Zigbee 3.0 at 2.450 GHz, and the TaHoma Switch carries a Zigbee radio alongside its RTS radio. Pair the motor in the TaHoma app to gain scenes, schedules, and voice control on the same hub that runs your RTS shades.
What shaft sizes does it accept?
Somfy sells through-shaft adaptors for 5mm and 6mm hexagonal shafts, 4mm, 6mm, and 6.4mm square shafts, and a 4mm D-shape shaft. Measure across the flats of the existing shaft with a caliper, then match the adaptor. Each size carries its own color for quick identification on the job.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
