How the Somfy Eolis Sensor works with your awning

The Somfy Eolis Sensor is a Vibration device that senses when your awning is shaking indicating that the awning is in windy conditions. With this information the Sensor is able to close the awning to protect it from windy conditions. This articles describes the device and how it works so customers have a good understanding of what it can and cannot do.

How it works

Awnings can offer customer many benefits however like all shades they can suffer damage from rain and winds. Seasonal weather has become more unstable with floods and winds expected in the cooler months. This is where a device like the Eolis sensor can sometimes help.

The Eolis Sensor is a small battery operated device that is attached to the front profile of your awning. It has an accelerometer inside which can measure movement.  On installation, a threshhold is set from 1 to 9 indicating how much acceleration it will receive before sending a signal to the motor to close. In order for a threshold to be triggered it must be tripped a certain number of times. So for example Level 5 needs 0.450 Acceleration tripped 3 times for it to send a signal to the motor to close.

So level 1 needs a smaller number of accelerations to be tripped but needs more of them whereas a level 9 needs a much higher acceleration but fewer of them to trip.

Levels	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Acceleration	0.150	0.225	0.300	0.375	0.450	0.525	0.600	0.675	0.750
Trips	6	5	5	4	3	3	3	3	3

When does a Eolis Sensor work

The Eolis Sensor is designed for normal wind conditions that happen in day to day weather. In the uae we sometimes recieve gusts of winds in the afternoon. Under normal conditions, this is designed to close the awning.

When does a Eolis Sensor Not Work

The Eolis Sensor is not designed to close the awning with strong gusts of winds, storms and rain.

Somfy Write the following in their manual:

This sensor does not protect the awning in the event of strong gusts of wind. If there is a risk of this kind of weather, ensure that the awning remain closed.

Why the Eolis Sensor doesnt work in strong winds?

As mentioned above, the sensor works  based on Acceleration and trips. In very strong wind conditions, the wind tends to come all at once in strong gusts. The Sensor in unable to count the number of vibrations and trips and close the awning (which can take up to 15 seconds). By this point the awning is already damaged.

It should also be noted that this sensor that will protect the awning from everything. Its a safety feature that does also require customer control. Awnings should be close when strong winds are expected.  This is why coupling your awning with a Eolis and a Tahoma Switch (remote control) means that an awning can be closed remotely.

Other points to ensure your Eolis Sensor works

• Customers should test the sensor by shaking the front profile to make sure it automatically closes
• Make sure the Batteries are full. The Batteries should last around 2 years
• The Eolis will reset the number of trips after 12min back to zero
• Once the awnings is closed the remote is closed for 30 seconds. After that remote is re-enabled. 11minutes and 30seconds later, Sun sensor will work again.