How do I control my Somfy RTS shades using my Lutron Caseta switch?

Controlling Somfy RTS (Radio Technology Somfy) shades with a Lutron Caséta switch directly isn’t natively supported because the two systems use different wireless protocols—Somfy RTS operates on a proprietary RF (radio frequency) system, while Lutron Caséta uses its own Clear Connect RF protocol. However, you can integrate them with some additional hardware and a smart home hub. Here’s how you can approach it:

What You’ll Need

1. Somfy myLink: This is a Wi-Fi-to-RTS bridge that allows you to control Somfy RTS shades via an app or integrate them with smart home systems.

2. Lutron Caséta Smart Hub: You likely already have this if you’re using a Caséta switch. Ensure it’s the standard Smart Hub (L-BDG2-WH) or the Pro version (L-BDGPRO2-WH).

3. A Compatible Smart Home Platform: Options include:

- Amazon Alexa

- Google Home

- Apple HomeKit (requires the Caséta Pro Hub for Lutron)

- SmartThings

- Or another hub like Hubitat that supports both systems.

4. Lutron Caséta Switch: This will act as your control point, but it won’t directly talk to the Somfy shades.

Steps to Set It Up

1. Set Up the Somfy myLink:

- Connect the Somfy myLink to your Wi-Fi network using the Somfy myLink app.

- Pair your Somfy RTS shades with the myLink (follow the app’s instructions—usually involves putting the shades into programming mode with a remote and linking them to myLink).

- Test control via the myLink app to ensure it’s working.

2. Integrate Somfy myLink with Your Smart Home Platform:

- Alexa: Add the Somfy myLink skill in the Alexa app, log in, and discover your shades as devices.

- Google Home: Link Somfy myLink via the Google Home app under “Works with Google.”

- SmartThings: Add the myLink device through the SmartThings app (it supports Somfy myLink natively).

- HomeKit: Somfy myLink isn’t natively HomeKit-compatible, but you could use a workaround like Homebridge (a software hub) to bridge it.

3. Connect Lutron Caséta to the Same Platform:

- Link your Lutron Caséta Smart Hub to the same smart home platform (e.g., Alexa, Google Home, or SmartThings) via its respective app or skill.

- Ensure your Caséta switch is recognized as a device in the platform.

4. Create an Automation or Scene:

- Use the smart home platform to create a routine/scene that ties the Lutron Caséta switch to the Somfy shades:

- Example with Alexa: Set a routine where turning on the Caséta switch triggers the Somfy shades to open. “When Lutron switch is turned on, open Somfy shade.”

- Example with SmartThings: Create a rule like “If Caséta switch is toggled, then set Somfy shade to 100% open.”

- Most platforms allow you to configure “on” and “off” states of the switch to correspond to opening or closing the shades.

5. Test the Integration:

- Toggle your Lutron Caséta switch and verify that the Somfy shades respond as expected. Adjust the automation in your smart home app if needed (e.g., reverse open/close actions).

Limitations

- No Direct Control: The Caséta switch can’t natively send RTS commands to Somfy shades without this intermediary setup.

- Switch Type: A basic Caséta on/off switch (e.g., PD-6WCL) works best for simple up/down control. Dimmer switches or the Pico remote for shades (PJ2-3BRL) won’t offer granular shade positioning (e.g., 50% open) unless your smart home platform supports it.

- Latency: There might be a slight delay due to the cloud-based nature of these integrations.

Alternative Approach: Somfy URTSI II

If you don’t want to rely on Wi-Fi or a smart home platform, consider the Somfy Universal RTS Interface II (URTSI II):

- Connects multiple RTS shades to a control system via serial commands.

- Requires a Lutron system like RadioRA 2 or HomeWorks (not Caséta) with an integration module to send commands to the URTSI II.

- This is more complex and expensive, and Caséta doesn’t support this level of integration natively.

Recommendation

For a straightforward setup with your existing Caséta switch, the Somfy myLink with a platform like Alexa or SmartThings is the most practical solution. If you want tighter integration or local control without cloud dependency, you’d need to upgrade to a Lutron RadioRA 2 system or use a hub like Hubitat with custom drivers.