Somfy RS485 RTS Driver

© 2022, Hilium Pty Ltd

Go to www.HomeAutomationCo.com.au/rti-drivers for the License Key (see below). Or contact support@hilium.com.au.

Allows for control of up to 4 x Somfy RS485 RTS Transmitters over RS232 or Ethernet. The Somfy RS485 RTS Transmitter is a 16 Channel RTS transmitter.

The driver has been tested using:

Generic RS232 to RS485 converter directly connected to RTI XP-3;

Over ethernet using Global Cache iTach Flex IP Version IP to RS232 converter and generic RS232 to RS485 converter.

Generic RS485 to Ethernet (IP) Converter.

Release History

1.0 Feb 2020 Initial release of the driver

1.1 Jul 2020 Bug fix to correct transmission for channel 10-15.

1.2 Mar 2021 Added system variables for the Somfy Channel names defined in the Driver Properties

2.0 May 2021 Added operation of the Somfy Tilt and Dim functions for tiltable venetian blinds and similar, and for dimmable lights. Added favourite position/light level command to support the Somfy My Position feature of blinds/lights.

2.1 Aug 2021 Bug fix.

2.2 Nov 2021 Added support for a second Somfy RS485 to RTS Transmitter using the same RS232 connection and hence one RS232 to RS485 converter. The two transmitters can share a common RS485 bus.

2.3 Nov 2021 Added support for up to 4 Somfy RS485 to RTS Transmitter using the same RS232 connection and hence one RS232 to RS485 converter. The transmitters can share a common RS485 bus.

2.4 Mar 2022 Added Somfy Commands. Save Favourite – which saves the blind/light/awning current position as its “Favourite”. Open Program – which puts the channel into copy mode allowing the RTS channel settings to be copied to another RTS device, eg a Somfy remote.

Add “Selected Channel” capability which supports selecting any channel or ‘Next’ and ‘Previous’ channel. Allows a single set of buttons (eg Up, Stop, Down) to be used to control all configured channels – all commands supported for the selected channel.

Wiring

RS232. Using an RTI RJ45 to DB9 adapter connect the RS232 terminal of the processor to the DB9 side of the RS232 to RS485 converter. The RS485 side of the converter has a terminal block for RS485-, RS485+, and RS485 Gnd. Connect these 3 terminals to the corresponding RS485 -, +, and G terminals on the Somfy transmitter.

Network. Using a Global Cache or similar IP to RS232 converter connect the RS232 side of foregoing converter to the RS232 to RS485 converter. The RS485 side of the converter has a terminal block for RS485-, RS485+, and RS485 Gnd. Connect these 3 terminals to the corresponding RS485 -, +, and G terminals on the Somfy transmitter.

Network. Using IP to RS485 converter. The RS485 side of the converter has a terminal block for RS485-, RS485+, and RS485 Gnd. Connect these 3 terminals to the corresponding RS485 -, +, and G terminals on the Somfy transmitter. Note, the RS485+ may be labelled ‘A’, and the RS485- may be labelled ‘B’.

Where more than 1 x Somfy RS485 RTS Transmitter is used they must be connected on the same RS485 bus – from either 1 x RS232 to RS485 converter or 1 x IP to RS485 converter.

Functionality

The following functions are implemented:

Channel Set – to associate nominated channels to the RTS motors, ie copies the RTS settings from a Somfy remote

Up – to move the blind up (On for Light)

Down - to move the blind down (Off for Light

Favourite - My Position or My Light Level. Ie move to the “Favourite’ position/level

Save Favourite position - saves the blind/light/awning’s current position as it’s “Favourite”.

Open Program Mode – puts the channel into copy mode allowing the RTS channel settings to be copied to another RTS device, eg a Somfy remote. This is basically the opposite of Channel Set.

Stop – to stop the motor

Tilt +/- – to tilt venetian blinds’ blades

Dim +/- – to dim Somfy lights

Select Channel – from all configured channels which are those that have a name set in the Driver Properties

Next – next configured channel

Previous – previous configured channel

Driver Properties

Comms Connection

Connection Type – choose either:

Network (TCP) (for network connection via IP to RS232 converter)

Serial (for direct RS232 Connection to RTI)

HTTP Address (if using a Network Connection)

This is the IP address of the IP to RS232 converter.

HTTP Port (if using a Network Connection)

This is the Port of the IP to RS232 converter.

Serial Port (if using a Serial Connection)

Select the appropriate RTI RS232 serial port.

Baud Rate (if using a Serial Connection)

Select the 4800 – the only baud rate used by the Somfy RS485 RT transmitter. Note that for IP to RS232 Converters the RS232 settings must be 4800~baud,~8~data~bits,~odd~parity,~1~stop~bit.

License Credentials

License Key

Use ‘Trial’ for testing purposes – the driver will be fully functional for 60 minutes.

Enter a Valid License key issued by Hilium Pty Ltd for production use. Contact details above.

System Variable “License Variable” “Status” will show whether not a valid license key has been entered.

Number of Somfy Transmitters

Enter 1,2,3 or 4 being the number of transmitters running from this instance if the driver and operating ion the same RS485 bus

Somfy Node IDs

Each Somfy RS485 RTS Transmitter comes with a unique Node ID, which is used to identify each unit. The Node ID can be found on the product label on the Somfy RTS Transmitter unit and is a 6 digit hexadecimal number, e.g. 05DAB1.

Enter the unique Note ID for each unit into Node ID #1, Node ID #2 etc respectively.

Somfy Channels

Channel 0 Name. This is Somfy Channel 0.

.

.

Channel 15 Name. This is Somfy Channel 15.

Name changes here carry through Apex for correct labels etc on the Controller.

Functions – commands available in Apex

For each channel the commands are:

Commands:

Up (On for a light)

Down (Off for a light)

Stop

Favourite (My Position or My Light Level)

Set

Save Favourite

Open Program

Tilt/Dim:

Tilt+ followed by the Tilting value of 1- 127

Tilt- followed by the Tilting value of 1- 127

Dim+ followed by the Dimming value of 1- 127

Dim- followed by the Dimming value of 1- 127

System Variables – available in Apex

Selected Channel name – at start-up this will be the first configured channel, ie channel with a ‘name’ set in the Driver Properties section

For each channel the name of the channel set in the Properties. This can be used to label buttons automatically based on the Properties

Button Tags – for auto programming

Button tags have been defined in the driver for each channel function.

For the first, Node ID #1

“Ch1 Down”

“Ch1 Up”

“Ch1 Stop”

“Ch1 Favourite”

“Ch1 Set”

“Ch1 Save”

“Ch1 Prog”

“Ch1 Tilt+”

“Ch1 Tilt-”

“Ch1 Dim+”

“Ch1 Dim-“

etc from Ch0 to Ch15

For the second, Node ID #2

“Ch1#2 Down”

“Ch1#2 Up”

“Ch1#2 Stop”

“Ch1#2 Favourite”

“Ch1#2 Set”

“Ch1#2 Save”

“Ch1#2 Prog”

“Ch1#2 Tilt+”

“Ch1#2 Tilt-”

“Ch1#2 Dim+”

“Ch1#2 Dim-“

etc from Ch0 to Ch15

For the “selected” channel

“Next”

“Previous”

“Selected Down”

“Selected Up”

“Selected Stop”

“Selected Favourite”

“Selected Set”

“Selected Save”

“Selected Prog”

“Selected Tilt+”

“Selected Tilt-”

“Selected Dim+”

“Selected Dim-“

Setting Up Somfy RTS Channels, etc

Each Somfy RTS Transmitter can control up to 16 assignable channels. By default, no channels are associated with motors/lights, this section outlines how to assign a channel in the Somfy RS485 RTS Transmitter to a compatible Somfy motor/light. To assign a channel to a motor/light (or group of motors/lights if a channel group has been set) complete the steps below:

Place the motor/group into its programming mode (please refer to the Somfy documentation for the motor/device you are pairing with, for steps on placing a motor/group into programming mode).

Once the motor/group is in programming mode and using an RTI controller, send a ‘Set’ command for the desired channel.

The motor/group you had ‘set’ will ‘jog’ (or flash for a light) if the channel has been set successfully.

Save Favourite. The motor/group ‘saved’ will ‘jog’ (or flash for a light) if the new favourite setting for the channel has been saved successfully. Wait for the jog – it takes a few seconds.

Open Program. The motor/group ‘opened in program mode’ will ‘jog’ (or flash for a light) when program mode is entered. Send the command again if no response in say 5s.

Last Updated 14 March 2022