SOMFY RS-485 SDN 2.0 Quick setup guide

1061 South 800 East · Orem, Utah 84097 · Telephone [phone] · Fax [phone] Document Updated June 17, 2016
©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
page 1 of 7
VANTAGECONTROLS.COM
EQUINOX INTEGRATION GUIDE
Manufacturer:
Somfy
Widget:
Shade
Model Number/s:
RS-485 SDN 2.0
Aliases:
None
Driver Version:
v. or higher
Widget Category:
Shades/Blinds
DC Version:
v. 3.3 or higher
Connection Type:
Serial (RS-485)*
I. Overview
As part of its Premier Partner Program, Vantage Equinox products support the Somfy RS-485 SDN 2.0 for control of the shades in
your InFusion Project. After setting up the Somfy in Design Center, the Equinox Shade Widget user interface for control of the Somfy
Shades automatically appears in the EQ41 and EQ73 in-wall touch screens and on mobile devices installed with the Equinox App
(available for iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Android products).
*see Notes section for information about Vantage RS-485 stations.
II. Features Supported / Not Supported
Feature
EQ40
EQ41, EQ73 &
EQApp
Open/ Close / Stop
Full control over open, close, and stop for all shades
Position Control
Set the shades to specific positions
Visual Feedback
Graphic presents the position of every shade
Group Control
Configure and control a shade group or individual shades
Configure Presets
Set up to four user-defined presets for each group.
Supported
Task Only Support
Not Supported
Feature Notes:
EQ40 support for open, close, and stop is supported only through Design Center Tasks.
III. Notes
Somfy shades contain a calibration property within Design Center. If checked, this will cause the shade to execute a full open and
close. While this occurs, the system will measure the travel time from bottom to top and top to bottom. These values will be used to
produce an accurate widget animation. If the widget animation seems too fast or too slow, the travel time can be reset. This is done
by un-checking the “Calibrate”checkbox and performing an update, then rechecking the box and performing a full program. This will
cause the shade to perform a full open and close to re-measure the travel time. Once the travel time is set, it will not change until
recalibrated through Design Center or some property of the shade is changed in Design Center. If the calibration does not work
there is an option to enter the full open and close times. This can be measured by a stop watch or smartphone.
Somfy products ARE NOT compatible with the RS-485 station. If a similar setup is desired it is best to use an RS-232 station with an
RS-485 to RS-232 converter. For more information, see the Installation Steps section.

EQUINOX INTEGRATION GUIDE
©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
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Links
Specifications: https://www.somfysystems.com/file.cfm/Sonesse_Range_Brochure_Sept_2015.pdf?contentid=211977
Databook: https://www.somfypro.com/documents/531668/9493868/Sonesse-30-Databook.pdf
Installation Instructions: https://www.somfypro.com/documents/531668/7162585/Sonesse30_RS485_Installation_Instructions.pdf
Demo Tool Installation Guide: http://files.domoticaforum.eu/Somfy/RS485%20demo%20tool%20IG.pdf
Somfy Downloads Page: https://www.somfypro.com/downloads
IV. Installation Steps
Use the above guides to install the Somfy shade systems. Please make note of the
node ID written on the tag for each shade. These will be used in the Design Center
setup. The limits of each shade must be set up outside of Design Center using the
limit setting tool SDN Motor Configuration Software as pictured to the right. Go to
the Downloads page in the links above to find a link to the software. In order to use
this software, you will need to connect the Somfy system to your computer’s com
port. This is typically done with an adapter such as the one pictured below from
B&B Electronics. Select the “Get Single Motor Address” option. Press “Up Limit”
button to get the shade to go to what it thinks is the full open. Use “Jog Up/Down
(Pulses)” to fine tune. When satisfied select “Adjust Limits” box. Select “Set Up @
Current”. Do the same steps for the full close position setting. You can also assign group addresses to each shade on the system.
Select “Clear Fields” box then enter in a group box the 3 byte hex address you chose. Then select “Set Groups”. Make note of each
the group addresses you chose. These will be used in Design Center setup, as well. If the up and down of the motor are backwards
select “Reverse Rotation” after selecting the “Limits Adjust” box. Connect a wire from the Somfy System bus to the InFusion Project.
Red is T/R+, Black is T/R-, and Green is Ground. You should be ready for Design Center configuration. If you do not have access to the
Group Addresses, you can leave the group address field blank in Design Center and it will send all of the commands individually to
each shade.
Somfy products ARE NOT compatible with the Vantage RS-485 station. If a station is wanted or needed, you will need to use an RS-
232 station with an RS-485 adapter, both are pictured below. We recommend the B&B converter with a null modem attached for
two way communication.
RS-232 Station: http://dealer.vantagecontrols.com/products/category.php?category=a0M800000049qPYEAY
Converter: http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/Serial-Connectivity/Serial-Converters/Port-Powered-RS-232-to-RS-422-485-
Converters/485SD9TB.aspx

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©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
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V.Design Center Setup
Follow these instructions to add the Somfy to your Design Center project and configure its settings appropriately.
1. Project Settings –Click
on Settings | Project
Information| Owner
(tab). Fill out the
Equinox Mobile
Passcode:
(alpha/numeric), and
the Equinox Admin PIN:
(numeric).
2. Add Somfy RS-485 SDN
2.0–In the Object
Explorer, select Drivers
and drag or double click
the driver to add it to the
project.
TIP: The Somfy is added
to the room currently
selected when double
clicking.
3. Name the Somfy –In the Object Editor, name the Somfy
and give it a user-friendly display name also.
4. Set the Area –Set the area for each
shade. Also, set the area for the
system.
5. Add a port –Add a new RS-485 port
(or RS-232 port with a station as described above). This
will correspond to the port that you connected the Somfy
to the InFusion Project with.
6. Add Groups –Add the number of groups you
programmed during installation.
7. Add Shades –Add the number of
shades you have in each group.
8. Set Group Addresses –Enter the
group address you programmed
during installation. If you leave
this field blank it will send
commands to all of the shades
individually.
9. Set Shade Motor Addresses –Enter the motor address
for each shade on the system.
10. Set the Open and Close Duration –
In the Object Editor, set the
duration properties to the number
of seconds the shade takes to open
and close.
11. Calibrate –When the system is
ready, check the “Calibrate”
checkbox within each shade and perform an InFusion
update. See notes above for more details.

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©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
page 4 of 7
VI.Equinox 40 Setup
The Equinox 40 has no native shade widget support for use with the RS-485 SDN 2.0. However, EQ40 (and keypad button) control
may be accomplished through Design Center tasks. See Design Center Procedure Table in section XII.
VII. Add Additional Equinox Devices and Program Controller
To use the Somfy with the Equinox Shade widget, simply add and name any EQ 73 or EQ 41 (from Vantage Objects | Touchscreens in
the Object Explorer pane) in their respective areas in your Design Center project. (For the Equinox mobile app, no object needs to be
added.) No additional Design Center setup is required.
Connect to the InFusion Controller. Configure the devices. After the devices are configured, do an Update or Full Program. The
devices should now be operational.
Do not touch or send commands (open, close, stop etc) to a Somfy Shade while it is calibrating. These may cause errors which will
require recalibration. If Equinox animation appears inaccurate, recalibrate the effected shade.
VIII. Equinox Widget Navigation
Once a Somfy Shade is added to the project, the Shade widget will normally appear on the EQ73, EQ41, and Equinox Apps. If the
widget is not visible, go to Profile Settings and select the widget to make it visible. Note that if the Shade widget is already on the
Equinox device, but the Somfy Shade is not visible; go to the widget’s Edit Mode (see below) to toggle the shade to make it visible.
The following screen shots, taken from a typical EQ73 device, show the basic navigation for full Equinox widgets on the EQ41, EQ73,
and Equinox App, among the three widget views: Dashboard, Full Screen, and Edit Mode. Refer to the “Equinox Apps Widget Install”
document on Vantage’s website for more detailed information.
Dashboard View of the Somfy in the Shade Widget
Press to enter Full Screen Widget
See current group or zone position
Shade controls
User assigned presets

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©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
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Full Screen View of the Somfy in the Shade Widget
Enter edit mode
See individual shade positions
Control individual shades
Press and hold to set presets
Swipe or press to switch between groups
Edit Mode View for Shade Widget
Toggle Inclusion/exclusion in widget
Hold and drag up/down to change the order
Equinox App Licensing Note
Install the Equinox App (search for Vantage Equinox) on your iOS or Android devices. A valid license is needed for each Equinox
device connected to a Vantage System. Licenses are available via Controller SD cards for up to 5 (EQ-APP-5), 10 (EQ-APP-10), or
unlimited (EQ-APP-X) quantities of Equinox devices. Also, each EQ73 station adds one more license (EQ73TB-T1). Ensure Step 1 of
the Design Center Setup was completed, as the Equinox App will not run without the Equinox Mobile Passcode. Launch the App, and
follow the on-screen prompts in the Setup Wizard.

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©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
page 6 of 7
IX. Connection Diagram Example
X. Bill of Materials Example
#
Device
Manufacturer
Part Number
Protocol
Connector Type
Notes
1
EQ41
Vantage
EQ41TB-TI
Ethernet w/PoE
Cat 5 (RJ45)
2
EQ73
Vantage
EQ73TB-TI
Ethernet w/PoE
Cat 5 (RJ45)
3
EQ Mobile Apps
Vantage
EQ-APP-5/10/X
WiFi
N/A
4
Infusion Controller
Vantage
IC-36-1
Ethernet
Station bus / Cat 5
5
Wireless Router
Luxul
XWR-1750
Ethernet / WiFi
Cat 5 (RJ45)
6
Gigabit Switch w/PoE
Luxul
XGS-1008P
Ethernet w/PoE
Cat 5 (RJ45)
7
Shade/Blind
Controller Interface
Somfy
Sonesse 30 RS485
RS-485
Cat 5 (RJ45)

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©Vantage Equinox
Somfy: RS-485 SDN 2.0
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XI. Tech Notes
Things to Know / Gotchas
If a shade is experiencing difficulty calibrating, change the shade to a different position and attempt recalibration.
If a shade appears stuck during calibration, press the open or close button to reanimate it.
You must use the limit setting tool before the shade can be used in calibration.
If you do not have access to the group addresses, leave the group address field empty. It will call all of the shades
individually.
XII. Design Center Task Procedure Table
The following table shows the most common procedures that are available for programming Design Center tasks with Somfy Shades.
Tasks can be assigned to keypad buttons and Equinox scenes.
Available Task Procedures
Category
Folder
Procedure
Shades/Motors
Shades
Close Blind
Open Blind
Set Blind Position
Stop Blind