How to Choose the Right Blind & Awning Motor

Choosing The Right Motor For Your Project

How to read a motor code For example, the motor SOMFY ALTUS 50 RTS 10/32 means a motor made by Somfy model Altus, 50 mm tube, controlled by RTS (Radio Transmission System) via wireless remote Torque 10 newton-metres Speed 32 rpm

Choosing the right motor torque for the job

Torque Torque is the motor’s turning power, used to raise and lower blinds or awnings. If the torque is too low, the blind won’t lift or the motor may fail early; if it is much higher than needed, it wastes money and runs slower. The bigger, heavier or taller the blind or awning → the more torque you need so it runs smoothly and safely. Choosing the right torque extends the motor’s life and improves its performance.

Torque	Application	Recommended size
3–6 N·m	Wooden venetian blinds / indoor Roman blinds	Width ≤ 3 m / height ≤ 4 m
6–10 N·m	Single roller blind	Width ≤ 3 m / height ≤ 8 m
15–30 N·m	Linked roller blinds / blinds over 8 m high / outdoor vertical awnings	Width > 3 m / height > 8 m
30–50 N·m	Skylight blinds / retractable awnings	Width ≤ 6 m
60–120 N·m	Large retractable awnings	Width > 6 m

Motor speed matters as much as torque

When choosing a motor for a blind or awning — especially units over 4 metres high — in addition to torque, speed in revolutions per minute (RPM) is an important factor you shouldn’t overlook,

because every motor has an automatic thermal cut-off if it runs continuously for more than 4 minutes, to prevent overheating. If you choose a motor that is too slow (low RPM), the blind may not finish going up or down before the cut-off kicks in.

Good to know

High-torque motors usually have lower RPM
Motors with both high speed and high torque cost more
For fabric drops over 4 metres, we recommend choosing 28–32 rpm so the blind finishes its travel before the cut-off.

Our advice

Consider torque, speed and budget together.
If you’re not sure, ask the specialist team at Starboard Design to recommend the best model for your site.

Example (based on Starboard Design’s standard 70 mm motor tube → fabric travels ~22 cm per revolution)

Fabric height	Revolutions needed	Time at 17 rpm	Time at 32 rpm
220 cm	~10 revolutions	~35 seconds	~19 seconds
350 cm	~16 revolutions	~56 seconds	~30 seconds
450 cm	~21 revolutions	~74 seconds	~40 seconds
650 cm	~30 revolutions	105 seconds	56 seconds

Motor types: RTS and WT

RTS (Radio Technology System)

is a wireless system, controlled by remote or connected to a smart-home system, with no control wiring needed — ideal for finished homes or anyone who wants easy installation and use.

WT (Wired Technology)
Controlled by a wired switch. Control wiring must run from the wall to the motor — ideal for projects, sites where wiring has been prepared in advance, or direct connection to a smart-home system.

Motor type	Control method	Advantages	Best for
RTS	Remote / wireless switch / smart home	Easy to install, convenient to control, can operate several blinds at once	Homes, renovations
WT	Wired switch / smart home	Very reliable — switches can’t get lost and there are no batteries to replace	Hotel rooms, homes with smart-home systems

How does the motor tube size affect the blind size?

The tube diameter directly affects how much load the system can carry and how efficiently it rolls the fabric. The bigger the tube, the wider and taller the blind can be, with less sagging.

Most blinds on the market use 52–55 mm tubes, which suit small to medium blinds but start to hit their limits on large blinds or awnings.

At Starboard Design we use a standard 70 mm diameter tube, and larger sizes when customers need them, to handle bigger installations and keep the system running reliably.

Why a bigger tube?

Bigger blind → more weight → needs a high-torque motor
High-torque motor → lower RPM
So we compensate with a larger tube so the fabric travels further with each revolution.

Recommended motor tube sizes

Tube size	Recommended width	Recommended height	Notes
52–55 mm	≤ 3 m	≤ 4 m	Common on the market
70 mm	≤ 4 m	≤ 6.5 m	Starboard standard
90 mm	≤ 5 m	≤ 9 m	For large blinds/awnings
130 mm	≤ 6 m	≥ 9 m	For extra-large special units

Choosing the right tube size helps:

keep the fabric taut and flat, without sagging
stop the motor from overworking
extend the life of the whole system

If you’re not sure which tube size to use, we recommend asking the specialists at Starboard Design

Choosing the right blind box size for good looks and proper function

A roller blind box (pelmet) isn’t just for neatness — it also plays a big part in the look of the interior, especially when it is recessed into a dropped ceiling. The box should be the “right” size for the motor and fabric: not so small that it gets in the way of operation, and not so large that it looks bulky.

If the box is too small, space gets tight, so the motor can’t work properly or the installer struggles to fit it.
A correctly sized box makes installation smooth, lets the fabric move up and down neatly, and hides all the hardware for a clean finish.

So the box size should be based on:

the height of the blind
the tube size used
the number of fabric wraps around the tube
the fabric thickness
clearance for real-world installation

Recommended motorized blind box sizes for different tube sizes, by blind height:

Blind height (cm)	Tube (mm)	Wraps (approx.)	Total thickness (mm)	Recommended box size (mm)
350	70	16	89.2	110
500	70	22	96.4	120
650	70	28	103.6	130
700	90	26	111.6	135
900	90	30	134.0	160
1000	130	24	158.8	180
1500	130	36	172.0	190
2000	130	48	185.2	200

Total thickness = tube diameter + (wraps × 2 × approx. fabric thickness of 0.6 mm)
The recommended box size includes clearance for easy installation and safe everyday use.
The actual number of wraps will be lower than in the table, because each outer wrap has a slightly larger circumference than the one inside it.

Caring for each motor type, and what to do when problems occur

Choosing the right motor isn’t just about size or control system — you should also understand how it behaves and the basic maintenance it needs, to extend its life and reduce problems on site.

WT Motor

Advantages

A basic system, connected directly to a wall switch.
Power is supplied to the motor only when it is operated, so it draws no power on standby.
Very low failure rate — ideal for hotel rooms.

Possible problems:

If there are frequent brownouts / power surges (e.g. in rural areas), the motor may “lose its limits” — the upper or lower stop moves away from where it was set.

Fix: A technician must reset the limits at the motor head (reaching it and adjusting with a special tool).
Advice: Install surge protection at the main distribution board.

If the motor doesn’t respond at all when you press the switch:

This is very rare → check the breaker and wiring first.
If the power is fine but the motor doesn’t move → the motor may genuinely be faulty and need replacing.

RTS Motor

Advantages

Controlled by remote, with no control wiring needed.
Easy to install and convenient to use.

Problems and basic checks:

Pressing the remote doesn’t move the blind

Check whether the remote’s light comes on
- If not → replace the battery (available at any convenience store such as 7-Eleven — check the battery type)
If the remote lights up but the blind still doesn’t move → the cause may be:
1.1 a faulty receiver (usually caused by frequent brownouts) → the motor must be replaced
1.2 lost pairing after pressing the “Setting” button by accident → have a technician set it up again

The motor runs but makes an unusual noise / jerks

Main cause: resistance while the motor is turning, for example the bottom rail catching on something

Forcing the motor to run against resistance can damage the gearbox or internal shaft, and the motor will then need replacing.

Summary: tips for installing motorized blinds

Choose a motor system that suits the space and your budget
Plan power and control wiring in advance so it can be routed and installed correctly
Install surge protection, especially where the power supply is unstable
Make sure nothing is obstructing the blind before operating it