Outdoor Living Guides & Tips

Helios™ awning options are the wireless automation sensors and LED lighting kits that turn the Helios™ Adjustable Front Bar System from a motorized awning into a self-managing one. Sold factory-direct at 1800Awnings.com in Tampa, Florida, the lineup covers five add-ons priced $263 to $682: three Somfy® wirefree sensors (wind, rain & sun, and sun-only) and two LED lighting kits in warm or cool color temperature, each bundled with an outdoor receiver and a Situo 5 Soliris remote.

The Helios™ itself is Shademaker Retractables' adjustable-pitch flagship — widths up to 29 feet, projections up to 12 feet, dual cable tension arms, and 150+ Sunbrella® fabrics, priced $4,655–$9,757. These options are how you protect that investment automatically and keep using the space after sunset.

Key Specifications

Why Helios™ Awning Options Stand Out

Wind Protection That Works When You're Not Home

The Eolis 3D Wirefree RTS wind sensor ($308) mounts on the awning and detects wind-induced movement. When shaking exceeds its threshold, it signals the Helios™ motor to retract automatically — no wiring, no monitoring, no being home. On a Florida afternoon when a squall builds in twenty minutes, that automatic retract is the difference between a stowed awning and a strained one.

Rain and Sun Handled by One Sensor

The Ondeis Wirefree RTS rain & sun sensor ($407) covers both directions: it can retract the awning when rain arrives and manage extension based on sunlight. For Tampa's summer pattern — blazing sun until 3 p.m., downpour by 4 — one sensor handles the whole cycle.

Set-and-Forget Shade on Sunny Days

The Sunis Outdoor Wirefree sun sensor ($263) is the budget automation entry: it responds to sunlight so the awning extends when the sun is beating down. Your patio furniture, and the rooms behind your glass doors, stay protected even when nobody thinks to press the button.

LED Lighting Extends the Evening

Both LED kits ($682 each) bundle the lights with an outdoor receiver and a Somfy Situo 5 Soliris remote, so lighting joins the same RTS remote ecosystem as the awning motor. Choose warm LED for relaxed dinner-party ambiance or cool LED for brighter, crisper task light — the hardware and price are otherwise identical.

Everything Speaks Somfy RTS

All five options run on Somfy's wirefree RTS radio platform — the same control standard used across 1800Awnings' motorized lines. One remote family, no conduit runs, and clean installs on an existing Helios™.

Which Sensor Should You Choose?

If you only buy one option, make it the wind sensor. A Helios™ runs $4,655–$9,757; the $308 Eolis 3D is the closest thing to an insurance policy for it.

2026 Pricing

Prices current as of August 2026 at 1800Awnings.com.

Who Are These Options Best For?

• Helios™ owners who travel or work away from home — sensors protect the awning with nobody there.
• Florida and coastal homeowners — fast-building storms make automatic wind retraction near-essential.
• Outdoor entertainers — LED kits turn a shaded patio into an evening room.
• Restaurants and hospitality spaces — automated shade and lighting without staff intervention.
• Buyers ordering a new Helios™ — bundling options with the awning means one install visit.

How to Order

1. Visit the Helios - Options product page.
2. Select your option from the dropdown — wind, rain & sun, or sun sensor, or a warm/cool LED kit.
3. Add to cart; repeat for additional options (many owners pair a sensor with an LED kit).
4. Check out, or call 1-800-AWNINGS (296-4647) to confirm compatibility with your Helios™ configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Eolis 3D wind sensor and how does it work?
The Eolis 3D Wirefree RTS is a battery-powered Somfy sensor that detects movement of the awning itself. When wind shakes the front bar beyond its set threshold, it transmits a radio retract command to the awning motor. It costs $308 at 1800Awnings.com and requires no wiring.

How does the Ondeis rain & sun sensor differ from the Sunis sun sensor?
The Ondeis ($407) responds to both rain and sunlight, so it can retract the awning in rain and manage extension on sunny days. The Sunis ($263) is sun-only. If you want rain response, choose the Ondeis; if you only want automatic shade on bright days, the Sunis saves $144.

Can I add these sensors to a Helios™ awning I already own?
Yes. All three sensors are wirefree Somfy RTS devices designed to pair with RTS motors, so they can be added to an existing motorized Helios™ without rewiring. Call 1-800-AWNINGS (296-4647) to confirm your motor configuration before ordering.

How much does awning LED lighting cost?
Both Helios™ LED kits are $682 in 2026. Each includes the LED lighting, an outdoor receiver, and a Somfy Situo 5 Soliris remote, so the lights operate in the same remote ecosystem as the awning.

What is the difference between the warm and cool LED kits?
Color temperature only. Warm LED gives a soft, amber-leaning light suited to dining and relaxing; cool LED is whiter and brighter, closer to daylight. Hardware, remote, receiver, and $682 price are identical.

Do I need a sensor if I'm usually home?
Even at home, a wind sensor reacts faster than a person — Florida gusts can hit while you're inside or asleep. With $4,655–$9,757 invested in a Helios™, most owners treat the $308 Eolis 3D as essential rather than optional.

Can I use more than one sensor at once?
Yes. A common pairing is the Eolis 3D wind sensor for protection plus the Sunis or Ondeis for daily sun automation. Wind retraction takes priority — protecting the awning always wins over providing shade.

Will these options work with other awning brands?
They're sold as the options package for the Helios™ Adjustable Front Bar System. The Somfy RTS platform is used across 1800Awnings' motorized lines, but confirm compatibility for any other model by calling 1-800-AWNINGS (296-4647).

The Bottom Line

The Helios™ Options package is inexpensive relative to what it protects and what it adds. For $263–$407, Somfy's wirefree sensors give a Helios™ automatic responses to wind, rain, and sun — with the $308 Eolis 3D wind sensor being the single most important add-on any Florida awning owner can buy. For $682, the LED kits (warm or cool) extend the patio's useful hours past sunset and fold lighting into the same remote you already use for the awning.

On a $4,655–$9,757 awning, full automation plus lighting tops out around $1,397 — roughly 15–30% of the awning's cost to make it self-protecting, self-managing, and usable at night. For Tampa Bay's storm-prone, sun-heavy climate, that's some of the best money you can spend on the system.

Ready to automate your Helios™? Order at the Helios - Options page or call 1-800-AWNINGS (296-4647) for expert help from the Tampa-based team.

Written by Corey Courtright | 1800Awnings.com | Tampa, FL