KAOS: Programming Troubleshooting Wizard

Interactive Troubleshooter

KAOS Programming Troubleshooting Wizard

Let's diagnose and fix your outdoor shade issue

Step 1

Start Over

First, let's identify your motor type

KAOS shades use one of two motor types. The easiest way to tell is by looking at your remote.

Important

All KAOS shades ship with remotes unpaired and no limits set. Initial setup requires pairing the remote and setting both upper and lower limits.

SI KAOS Motor

Simple 3-button remote with programming button on back

Somfy Motor

Simu remote with black Stop button and programming button on the back

I'm not sure which motor I have

Let's identify your motor type

To determine which motor you have, we'll need to verify your order information.

What you'll need

Please have one of the following ready:
• Sales Order Number: SHXXXXXX
• Project ID#

Submit a request with my order information Check my Dealer Portal to verify

Dealer Portal

If you have access to the SI Dealer Portal, you can look up your order details there to confirm which motor type was included with your KAOS shade.

SI KAOS Motor

What issue are you experiencing?

Select the option that best describes your problem.

Shade won't move at all Shade only moves in small increments Shade moves the wrong direction Need to set or adjust limits Shade overshoots or passes its limits Shade stops and reverses on its own Need to pair or add a remote Need to factory reset the motor Something else

SI KAOS Motor

Shade won't move at all

Checklist

1. Verify power to the motor — check breaker, junction box connections
2. Make sure remote batteries are fresh
3. Confirm remote is within range of the shade
4. Check if the motor is in thermal protection (overheated)

Thermal Protection

If the motor was used repeatedly, it may have overheated. Let it cool for 15-30 minutes and try again.

Found the issue — it's working now Power is good, remote may need pairing Still not working

SI KAOS Motor

Shade only moves in small increments

This usually means one of two things:

1. Continuous Mode is disabled — motor requires hold to move
2. No limits are set — motor is in programming mode

Try This First — Toggle Continuous Mode

1. Press and HOLD the STOP button for 5 seconds until the shade jogs
2. TAP the STOP button — the shade will jog again
3. The motor should now move to its limits with a single tap

Fixed — shade moves normally now Still incremental — may need limits set

SI KAOS Motor

Setting or adjusting limits

Important Distinction

Setting Limits: When motor has NO limits (new install or after factory reset)
Adjusting Limits: When limits exist but need modification

New install — need to set limits from scratch Limits exist — need to adjust them

SI KAOS Motor

Setting motor limits

Setting the Upper Limit

1. Tap the Programming button on the back of the remote — motor jogs
2. Press UP to enter upper limit setting mode
3. Use UP/DOWN buttons to position the shade (tap for small moves, hold 3 sec for continuous)
4. Tap the Programming button again — motor jogs, upper limit saved

Setting the Lower Limit

1. Tap the Programming button — motor jogs
2. Press DOWN to enter lower limit setting mode
3. Position the shade at desired lower limit
4. Tap the Programming button — motor jogs, lower limit saved

Important

Do NOT set an intermediate/favorite position as your upper or lower limit — this can cause the shade to travel beyond the limits and damage the system.

Limits are set — shade is working Having trouble — need to reset

SI KAOS Motor

Changing motor direction

To reverse motor direction

1. Press and HOLD the STOP button for 5 seconds until the shade jogs (Programming Mode)
2. Tap the DOWN button
3. The motor will jog, confirming the direction change

Tip

Repeat this process to toggle back to the original direction if needed.

Direction is correct now Direction won't change — try reset

SI KAOS Motor

Adjusting existing limits

Important — Must Be At Current Limit

Limits can only be adjusted when the shade is physically at that limit. If the current limit cannot be reached, you must factory reset the motor and complete the full limit setting process from scratch.

To Adjust a Limit

1. Move the shade to the current limit you want to change
2. Tap the Programming button on the back of the remote — motor jogs
3. Use UP/DOWN to move to the new desired position
4. Tap the Programming button again — motor jogs, new limit saved

Limits adjusted successfully Can't reach the limit — need to factory reset

SI KAOS Motor

Shade overshoots or passes its limits

Likely Cause

There may be an Intermediate (Favorite) Position set that is being confused with the actual limit.

Fix — Erase the Intermediate Position

1. Move the shade to the intermediate position
2. Hold the Programming button on the back of the remote for 7 seconds
3. The motor will jog once immediately, then jog again after 7 seconds
4. The intermediate position is now erased

Then Re-set the Correct Limit

1. Move to the incorrect limit position
2. Hold the Programming button for 7 seconds to erase it
3. Set the new correct limit using the limit setting process

Limits are correct now Need help setting limits Still having issues

SI KAOS Motor

Shade stops and reverses on its own

This is the Obstacle Detection feature

The motor senses resistance and reverses as a safety feature. This can be triggered by actual obstructions OR by sensitivity being too high.

Check for physical issues first

1. Check for any obstructions in the shade's path
2. Verify the fabric isn't catching or binding
3. Make sure the shade is level in its tracks
4. Clean and lubricate inner track with silicone-based lubricant

Adjust Obstacle Detection Sensitivity (Range: 1-5)

1. Hold UP + DOWN for 5 seconds — motor jogs
2. To decrease sensitivity: Press STOP + DOWN
3. To increase sensitivity: Press STOP + UP
4. Hold STOP for 2 seconds — motor jogs, setting confirmed

Fixed — shade operates normally now Still reversing unexpectedly

SI KAOS Motor

Pairing a remote to the motor

Shipping State

KAOS shades with SI KAOS motors ship with remotes unpaired and no limits set. You'll need to pair the remote first, then set limits.

New Installation — Pairing First Remote

1. Unplug the motor from power
2. Press and hold the UP button on the remote for 3 seconds
3. While holding UP, plug in the motor
4. The motor will jog once (now in programming mode)
5. Quickly press the UP button — motor jogs
6. The remote is now paired

Adding an Additional Remote

1. On the original working remote, hold the STOP button until the shade jogs
2. On the new remote, quickly press the UP button
3. The shade will jog — new remote is paired

Sidekick Remote/Keypad

To pair a Sidekick: Use a paperclip to tap the MENU button on back, then on front tap 3 - 1 - STOP. All LEDs will flash, then follow the "Adding a Remote" steps above.

Paired — now need to set limits All set — shade is working Can't pair — may need reset

SI KAOS Motor

Factory Reset

Warning

Factory reset will erase all limits and unpair all remotes from the motor. You'll need to re-pair and set limits after.

Standard SI KAOS Motor — Factory Reset

1. Press and HOLD the STOP button for 5 seconds until the shade jogs (Programming Mode)
2. Hold the Programming button on the back of the remote for 7 seconds
3. The motor will jog briefly after ~1 second
4. Continue holding — after 7 seconds the motor jogs again
5. Factory settings are restored

NEW SI-50nm Motor — Factory Reset

The SI-50nm motor has a Programming/Pairing Button on the motor (located on the antenna side of the cassette).

1. Hold the Programming button on the motor for 7 seconds
2. The motor will jog after ~1 second
3. Continue holding — after 7 seconds the motor jogs again
4. Factory settings are restored

Reset complete — now pair remote Reset isn't working

Somfy Motor

What issue are you experiencing?

Select the option that best describes your problem.

Shade won't move at all Shade only moves in small increments Shade moves the wrong direction Need to set or adjust limits Shade stops and reverses on its own Need to pair a remote Need to factory reset Something else

Somfy Motor

Shade won't move at all

Checklist

1. Verify power to the motor — check breaker, junction connections
2. Make sure remote batteries are fresh
3. Confirm remote is within range
4. Try tapping the Programming Button on back of remote once

Programming Button Behavior

Holding the programming button in User Mode temporarily disables all motor control. If nothing responds, tap the Programming Button once — shade should jog and return to User Mode. If not, wait ~2 minutes for automatic recovery.

Found the issue — it's working now Power is good, remote may need pairing Still not working

Somfy Motor

Shade only moves in small increments

What this means

The motor is in Programming Mode — either limits were never set, or the motor was accidentally put into limit-adjust mode.

If shade was working before

1. Press and hold MY/STOP until the shade jogs
2. Tap the Programming Button on back of remote
3. Shade should jog and return to User Mode

If limits were never set

This is a new installation — you'll need to complete the full limit setting process.

Fixed — shade moves normally now Need to set limits (new install) Nothing works — try reset

Somfy Motor

Shade moves the wrong direction

Common Causes

• Motor head is on the left vs. right side
• Shade roll is reversed (KAOS offers standard roll only)
• Shade was lowered to the tube and continued rolling the wrong way

Important — Factory Reset Required

If this is not initial setup (limits have already been set), the motor must be factory reset to change motor rotation. Direction can only be set during the initial limit setting process.

During Initial Setup Only (No Limits Set)

Press and hold MY/STOP until the shade jogs once. Direction is now reversed. Then continue with limit setting.

Limits are already set — need to factory reset This is initial setup — direction fixed, now set limits Direction is correct now

Somfy Motor

Setting or adjusting limits

Important Distinction

Setting Limits: When motor has NO limits (new install)
Adjusting Limits: When limits exist but need modification

New install — need to set limits from scratch Limits exist — need to adjust them

Somfy Motor

Setting limits (new installation)

Shipping State

KAOS shades with Somfy motors ship with remotes unpaired and no limits set. This process covers both pairing and limit setting.

Best Practice

Only have one shade powered during setup to avoid accidentally pairing multiple shades.

Complete Limit Setting Process

1. Apply power to the shade
2. Hold UP + DOWN until shade jogs — remote is paired
3. Check motor direction (UP should raise, DOWN should lower). If wrong, hold MY/STOP until jog
4. Move shade to desired upper limit
5. Press MY/STOP + DOWN together — shade will start moving down
   (May take a few tries — tap quickly or hold 1-2 seconds)
6. Press MY/STOP when near lower limit to stop
7. Position shade at desired lower limit
8. Press MY/STOP + UP together — shade will start moving up
9. Press MY/STOP to stop between limits
10. Hold MY/STOP until jog — exits programming
11. Tap Programming Button on back — jog confirms limits saved

Important

Complete this process start to finish without interruptions. The button combinations may take several attempts.

Limits are set — shade is working Can't get it to work — try reset

Somfy Motor

Adjusting existing limits

Important — Must Be At Current Limit

Limits can only be adjusted when the shade is physically at that limit. If the current limit cannot be reached, you must factory reset the motor and complete the full limit setting process from scratch.

To Adjust a Limit

1. Move shade to the current limit you want to change
2. Hold UP + DOWN until shade jogs (up to 7 seconds)
3. Use UP/DOWN to move to the new desired position
4. Hold MY/STOP until shade jogs — new limit saved

Limits adjusted successfully Can't reach the limit — need to factory reset

Somfy Motor

Shade stops and reverses on its own

This is Obstacle Detection

The motor senses resistance during downward movement and reverses. Can be triggered even without physical obstructions.

Common Causes

• Tube deflection on long/wide shades
• Tracks spaced too far apart or too close
• Light debris or friction in the track
• Shade not fully seated in tracks

Disable Obstacle Detection

1. Move shade to halfway position
2. Press MY/STOP + UP briefly, then HOLD until shade jogs
   (If shade moves up, buttons weren't pressed simultaneously)
3. Press UP, UP quickly within 2 seconds — shade jogs slowly
4. Hold MY/STOP until jog to confirm and exit

Test if it worked

Apply pressure to the weight bar as it moves down. If it still stops and reverses, obstacle detection was NOT disabled — repeat the process.

Fixed — shade operates normally now Still having issues

Somfy Motor

Pairing a remote

Shipping State

KAOS shades with Somfy motors ship with remotes unpaired and no limits set.

Pair Remote to Motor

Press and HOLD UP + DOWN simultaneously until the shade jogs once. The remote is now paired.

Paired — now need to set limits All set — shade is working Can't pair — need factory reset

Somfy Motor

Factory Reset (2-10-2 Method)

Warning

Factory resets can be difficult and may require many attempts. This will erase all limits and remote pairings.

Critical — Reset Will Not Work in Programming Mode

The motor must be in User Mode for factory reset to work. If the shade only moves in small increments, it's in Programming Mode and the reset will fail.

Before Resetting — Exit Programming Mode First

1. Press and hold MY/STOP until the shade jogs
2. Tap the Programming Button on back of remote — shade should jog again
3. Test: Tap UP or DOWN — shade should move continuously, not in small increments
4. If still incremental, repeat steps 1-2 or wait ~2 minutes for automatic recovery

2-10-2 Reset Process

1. Start with power ON
2. Remove power for 2 seconds
3. Re-apply power for 10 seconds
4. Remove power for 2 seconds
5. Re-apply power — shade will begin to move
6. When it stops, hold the Programming Button until shade jogs TWICE
   (Don't release until TWO jogs or restart the process)

After Reset — Complete Full Setup

After a successful factory reset, you must complete the full setup process:

1. Pair the remote: Hold UP + DOWN until shade jogs
2. Set motor direction: Hold MY/STOP until jog (if needed)
3. Set upper and lower limits (see limit setting instructions)
4. Exit programming mode: Hold MY/STOP until jog
5. Save to memory: Tap Programming Button — jog confirms User Mode

Tips

• Performing reset at the breaker is often easier than unplugging at the junction
• A successful reset produces a quick jog — if shade moves more, reset didn't take
• Adjust your timing/cadence if it doesn't work on first try
• If reset keeps failing, verify the motor is in User Mode (continuous movement, not increments)

Reset complete — now pair remote Can't get reset to work

Great — glad we got it working!

Issue Resolved

Your KAOS shade troubleshooting is complete.

Motor Programming Guides

SI KAOS Motor Programming Guide
Somfy Motor Programming Guide

KAOS Installation Guides

KAOS: Inside Mount (V2)
KAOS: Outside Mount (V2)
KAOS: Pocket

Let's get you some help

We've captured your troubleshooting path to help our team resolve this faster.

Before you submit

You may find the answer in our programming guides:
SI KAOS Motor Programming Guide
Somfy Motor Programming Guide

Diagnostic Summary:

Helpful Info for Support

Please have ready: Order number, shade behavior description, remote model, whether limits were ever set, and whether factory reset was attempted.

Submit Support Request Copy Diagnostic

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