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Loxone Support Community › Category: Loxone Config › Somfy RTS control
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Arianna Panzanini 2 years ago
Somfy RTS control

Hi, has anyone had any success integrating somfy RTS blinds into loxone via the RS485 module / Somfy RTS transmitter? I have a Somfy tilt/lift 25 setup on a roman blind (working with a Somfy remote) and know the RTS transmitter can control 16 blind groups over RS485 or 5 groups over the relays on the back. I hear the RS485 configuration is a pain and would greatly appreaciate any advice / help.

Thank you in advance, Seb

3 Answers
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2 years ago

Hi, I have tried integrating a Somfy venitian blind with limited sucess. Have discussed with Loxone technical and have not found a satisfactory solution.

My advice is steer clear of Somfy with Loxone and just use a conventional 230V motor. This works very well.

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2 years ago

Take a look at the Bond Bridge, its about £80 and the basic one can handle up to 20 blinds.

Very easy to configure.

2 years ago

How easy is it to sync the blinds to the bridge. And how does loxone control the bridge?

1 Vote Up Vote Down
2 years ago

Hi, so initially this was a quesion, I have since worked it out so here is the answer.
1) Follow the instructions at: https://loxwiki.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/LOX/pages/1521975601/Somfy+RTS+Steuerung+in+Loxone+einbinden
2) Where it was not clear to me was Step 2, the Host address should remain as "FF FF 00" and the Slave value should be the address of the transmitter is on a sticker on the device
3) That should get you working.
I only have roman blinds (somfy 25 tilt/lift) so to setup the blinds I used a somfy remote to set the upper/lower limits and changed the mode of the blind to roller. In loxone I then set the up/down timings to be slightly more than the actual time needed, this ensures it fully opens/closes
In case the details at the above URL are removed:
Step 1: Comission the RS485 extension
Add the RS485 extension into your setup and configure with the following setup:

  • Serial protocol: None
  • Polling cycle: -1
  • Baud rate: 4800
  • Number of data bits: 8
  • Stop bits: 1
  • Parity: Odd
  • Pause [s]: 0.01
  • End character: do not use
  • Checksum: None
  • Positive ack: do not use
  • Negative ack: do not use

Step 2: Connect up the transmitted
Connect RTS transmitter. The SOMY RTS transmitter has terminals labeled NC, +, – and G (the labelling on the unit is correct, unlike their documentation in place).
NC means Not Connected and therefore remains blank

  • +\’ve is connected to terminal A of the Loxone Extension (right)
  • -\’ve is connected to terminal B of the Loxone Extension (left)
    G is connected to the GND terminal of the Loxone Extension (middle)

Terminated the bus with a 120 ohm resistor (just like the Loxone bus)
Step 3: Create the codes
The codes are the required commands (e.g. Up, Down, Stop, …). These codes are tailored to the respective transmitter and are therefore not universally applicable. There is a small Windows program that creates these codes for you.
In the program window, leave the Host value as "FF FF 00". Update the Slave value to the address of the transmitter which is on a sticker on the device.
We need 3 codes to teach a motor and then to be able to control it with UP/DOWN.
In order to be able to teach the transmitter to a motor or actuator at all, you need the "SET_CHANNEL" programming command. This corresponds to the Prog button on the back of the hand-held transmitter.
So you select the command "SET_CHANNEL" in the program window and as a parameter "RTS channel selection" any channel, eg 0, then you click on the green button and the code is copied to the clipboard. In LoxConfig you select the RS485 extension and then "Add actuator" the top of the menu. The previously copied code goes into the settings of the actuator just created as "Command at ON". – lets label that as "Channel 0 Prog". Drag the actuator into a workspace page and link it to a Virtual input. This will enable you to get motors to that channel from the Loxone app.
Repeat the previous steps with the command "CTRL_POSITION", parameter UP and parameter DOWN. Also create a code for STOP and insert it as "Command at OFF" for the UP and DOWN actuators.
The up/down actuators are connected to a blind module and configured as normal and repeat this for as many blind groups you need.
Note
If the generated code contains a "C5", this code is interpreted by Loxone as a control character and is not sent.
Example: x7FxF2xFAxFFx00x007x2BxFAxFAxFCx07x5C is sent as "7F F2 FA FF 00 00 D7 2B FA FA FC 07"
In order to still be able to send the complete code, this character must be entered twice.
Example: x7FxF2xFAxFFx00x007x2BxFAxFAxFCx07 x5Cx5C is sent as "7F F2 FA FF 00 00 D7 2B FA FA FC 07 5C "
Step 4
Teaching the transmitter to the motor
If a hand-held transmitter has already been taught, take it, select the appropriate channel and press the recessed Prog button on the back until the motor runs up and down briefly. Now trigger the Prog actuator via Loxone.
Complete. The motor should now be controllable via Loxone. I will add more detail on the actual blind configuratioin (limits / programmed / channel selection when I find my hand-held transmitter)
Thanks, Seb