Collection:
Somfy SDN (Digital Network)
Somfy Digital Network is the wired, addressable RS485 system for commercial glazing and large residential facades, where every motor has an address and reports its position back.
Here: SDN motors across the Sonesse sizes, DecoFlex digital keypads, 24V power panels and distribution enclosures from 5 to 20 motors, plenum and non-plenum cable, and the RS485 commissioning tool.
Somfy SDN Low-voltage Motor Power and Data Cable, plenum rated (spool) (9020127)
Somfy SDN Low-Voltage Motor Power and Data Cable, Non-Plenum Rated (1000 ft) (9020126)
Somfy Sonesse 50 535A2 RS485 SDN 120V Motor (35Nm) (1002288)
Somfy Sonesse 50 515S2 RS485 SDN 120V Motor (15Nm) (1002427)
Somfy Sonesse 40 409R2 RS485 SDN Motor (9Nm, 14rpm) (1240564)
Somfy Sonesse 40 406A2 RS485 SDN Motor (6Nm, 24rpm) (1240563)
Somfy Sonesse 40 404S2 RS485 SDN Motor (4Nm, 36rpm) (1240562)
Somfy SDN Power over Ethernet (PoE) Gateway (1860326)
Somfy SDN V2 DecoFlex Digital Keypad, 8-Button Group Control White (1871496)
Somfy SDN V2 DecoFlex Digital Keypad, 6-Button Group Controller White (1871497)
Somfy SDN V2 DecoFlex Digital Keypad, 8-Button White (1871472)
Somfy SDN DecoFlex Digital Keypad, 8-Button Black (1871494)
Somfy SDN DecoFlex Digital Keypad, 8-Button White (1811253)
Specifying Somfy Digital Network (SDN)
Why SDN exists
SDN is a wired RS485 bus where every motor carries an address. The controller can command any motor individually, read its real position back, and set limits from a laptop rather than a ladder. On a commercial facade with dozens of shades on one elevation, that addressability is the reason the system gets specified at all.
It also removes radio from the equation, which matters in buildings where 433 MHz and 2.4 GHz are both congested.
What a bus needs
Motors across the Sonesse sizes in RS485 versions, DecoFlex digital keypads, 24V power panels, and distribution enclosures sized from 5 to 20 motors. Cable comes in plenum and non-plenum, and the choice is set by the building, not by preference.
Commissioning
The RS485 setting tool and the USB to RS485 adaptor are what address and commission the bus. Budget them into the first SDN job. They are reusable across every job after that, and there is no practical way to commission without them.
An RS485 motor has no radio
This catches people. A Sonesse 506S2 RS485 delivers the same 6 Nm at 32 rpm as its RTS twin, and it will not answer a Telis remote, because it carries no receiver. RTS remotes and DecoFlex WireFree switches do not belong on an SDN quote. If a client wants app control on an SDN system, that comes through the Data Hub and the control system, not through a handheld.
Related guides:Somfy control systems comparedSonesse 50 535A2 RS485 SDN wiring guideSomfy UAI Plus SDN commissioning guide
Common questions
What is Somfy Digital Network?
A hardwired, addressable control system running over an RS485 bus. Every motor gets its own address and reports position, limits and faults back to the controller. Nothing depends on radio, which is the point in a building where hundreds of motors must be commissioned and serviced.
When is SDN worth it over RTS?
Roughly above thirty motors, or wherever the shades have to be documented, addressed and diagnosed years after install. SDN needs real infrastructure, power panels, enclosures and bus cable to every motor, so at small scale the cost is not justified.
Does an SDN motor perform differently from an RTS one?
No. Somfy builds the same mechanism and fits different control electronics. The Sonesse 506S2 delivers 6 Nm at 32 rpm in its RTS version, its RS485 version and its 4-wire version alike. The protocol changes the control layer, not the motor.
What do I need besides the motors?
24V power panels, distribution enclosures, plenum or non-plenum bus cable, keypads or a controller, and the RS485 commissioning tool used to set addresses and limits. Plan the bus topology before ordering, because cable routing drives the parts list.
Can SDN integrate with third-party automation?
Yes. RS485 two-way communication is designed for it, and Somfy documents the integration for building control and AV systems. This is a large part of why SDN is specified on commercial glazing in the first place.
Shade Direct. Install Faster.
At Shade Motors Direct, we understand what installers need because we are installers. As a trusted distributor of Somfy motors, remotes, and controls, we provide high-quality automation solutions with fast shipping and expert support. We keep products in stock, offer competitive pricing, and make ordering simple, so you can focus on getting the job done. Whether you're outfitting a single shade or automating an entire home, we’re here to ensure you get the right products, on time, every time.
