Somfy, a global manufacturer of motors for interior window coverings and exterior solar protections, has announced the launch of its Sonesse 40 PoE motors.

One year after launching its Sonesse 30 PoE motor, which Somfy says is one of the smallest PoE motors on the market, it now complements the product line with its latest ultra-quiet yet powerful motor.

The company explains the Sonesse 40 PoE is powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE), a networking feature that lets network cables carry electrical DC power and Internet Protocol (IP) data connectivity over an existing data connection using a single Cat-5e/Cat-6 ethernet cable. Summing up the PoE capabilities, Somfy says the technology essentially through a single cable delivers power, data, and control.

“At Somfy, we prioritize flexibility, safety, and scalability for our motorized window treatment users,” says Dan Niemirka, senior product manager of motors and accessories at Somfy. “The Sonesse 40 PoE motor is our strongest and latest innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers by providing them the unique advantages of Power over Ethernet with incredible lifting capacity, as well as third-party integrations and control.”

Sonesse 40 PoE Provides Smart Home System Flexibility

The Sonesse 40 PoE provides a full range of motors, including 2, 4 and 6Nm, to operate everything from the smallest to the largest of motorized applications. Somfy states that its Synergy API allows for simple direct integration to users’ favorite third-party control systems, eliminating the need for additional hardware. Somfy points out that currently it has the following integration partners: Control4, Crestron, Crestron Home, URC, ELAN, and RTI. With Somfy’s PoE Motor Configuration Software, the company continues, users can easily configure multiple motors over IP from a single interface.

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Somfy boasts there are numerous benefits to PoE-powered motors. PoE is widely used for Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones, as well as in surveillance cameras, and WiFi access points. The adoption of the new IEEE 802.3 bt standard in 2018 PoE switches enables the protocol to now deliver 90 watts, a much higher power than the original 15 watts as standard. As a result, Somfy notes, powered devices have a wider range on the network, including 6Nm motors for shades.

The new PoE motor Somfy emphasizes, enables a convergence of Internet Protocol digital building systems by expanding the possibilities of different devices requiring higher power to live on the same IP backbone. Additionally, PoE motors offer flexibility to office and living spaces by not requiring the use of an electrical AC outlet, enabling the installer to place the device wherever needed.

“We are changing the landscape of the lighting and shading industry by adopting the new 90-Watt PoE bt standard. PoE implementation is going to help jumpstart the future of the power distribution industry, which has not innovated in over a century. Most devices in buildings use DC, but standard practice has been to use an AC grid 120 or 240 volts AC and transformers to convert to local DC power,” comments Niemirka

“This is not only a waste of energy, but a costly endeavor. DC solar and battery costs are much more affordable and PoE is enabling that affordability and scalability to manufacturers.”

Somfy stresses that PoE also reduces the time and expense of having line voltage cabling installed and can transmit power and data using low voltage wiring (Cat-5e/Cat-6) up to 328 ft. There are additional benefits to using Cat-5e/Cat-6 wiring. Its connections provide maintenance-free, convenient, and reliable communication as an alternative to traditional radio wireless solutions which are powered by batteries.

With Cat-5e/Cat-6 wiring, there is no need for charging or eventual replacement of batteries. The network cables also do not require a licensed electrician to install them, providing a convenient and reliable wired connection over traditional RF solutions.

Other benefits of PoE include it provides a scalable and sustainable choice for manufacturers. Since only the necessary negotiated power is available on the network, installation and distribution networks become simple and effective without energy waste. Through PoE data collection, manufacturers can offer enhanced customer experiences to scale their operations.

Somfy PoE motors are powered by a reliably secure protocol that employs modern security and encryption standards. With intelligent power delivery, PoE is designed to protect network equipment from power overloads as well as underpowering, and even incorrect installations. IEEE standards ensure the Power Source Equipment senses and delivers the correct negotiated power to Powered Devices.

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