Camden CX-91S-12 1,200 lbs Surface Mount Magnetic Lock
The Camden CX-91S-12 is a surface-mounted electromagnetic strike designed for single-door access control installations requiring robust holding force without frame mortising. Rated for 1,200 lbs door capacity, it operates on 24VDC with field-selectable 12/24VDC jumper configuration and integrates directly into any relay-based door release architecture—panel outputs, intercom release terminals, or push-to-exit controllers. This is the standard choice for retrofit deployments, glass-door systems, and commercial facilities where frame modification creates cost or structural constraints.
Key Features
- 1,200 lbs holding force: Rated for standard aluminum and steel frame doors up to 1,200 lbs. Exceeds typical single-door application load; 600 lbs variant available for lighter glass-door installations.
- Surface mount design: Installs directly to door frame or strike plate without mortising. Eliminates frame damage and labor cost in retrofit scenarios.
- Field-selectable voltage (12/24VDC): Jumper-configurable at installation. Allows deployment flexibility when power budgets or panel outputs vary across sites.
- 240 mA draw at 24VDC: Low current consumption — verifiable against access control power supply ratings. MOV surge protection on-board prevents relay switching transients.
- Wired door status switch included: Magnetic strike position monitoring — integrates into access control panel door alarm loops without additional hardware.
- UL 1034 & ULC S533-15 certified: Burglary-resistant electric locking. Acceptable for life-safety and security-critical installations.
- ONVIF-compatible relay trigger: Works with any access control output rated for inductive load — Axis intercoms, Honeywell panels, HID, Salto, and legacy 4-wire relay systems.
The CX-91S-12 is a straightforward electromagnetic strike: no IP network connectivity, no cloud integration, no analytics. It is a passive electrified locking device that holds a door closed when energized and releases when the relay de-energizes. Power the coil, monitor the status switch, and you have a complete single-door egress point. The 10.5″ W × 2.625″ H × 1.5625″ D profile fits standard door-frame geometries; confirm clearance with the provided mounting template before installation.
Integration is relay-based, not IP-native. Your access control system must supply a normally-open dry contact output rated for inductive loads (or filtered relay output). On panels without built-in MOV or diode suppression, add an external suppression diode across the relay coil to protect panel outputs from back-EMF spikes when the strike de-energizes. This is a one-time circuit design concern — once wired correctly, the device operates for years without firmware updates or configuration drift.
Cost-per-door is low when integrated into a wired access control topology (hardwired panel or networked controller with relay output boards). For large distributed sites requiring independent wireless door release or cloud-connected unlock events, evaluate networked smart strikes or IP intercom release outputs instead. The CX-91S-12 is the right choice when you have local power at the door, a wired control circuit, and need proven holding force with minimal installation overhead.
Jerry TildsenPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed hundreds of Camden electromagnetic strikes across retrofit and new-build access control projects, and the CX-91S-12 remains the baseline reference for mid-range single-door magnetic locks. It's not flashy — no IP integration, no remote monitoring beyond the door status switch — but that simplicity is precisely why it survives on spec sheets. Integrators spec it because it works with every panel architecture we support: legacy 4-wire relay systems, Honeywell ProWatch with hardwired release boards, IP intercoms with relay outputs, and standalone push-button controllers. The 1,200 lbs rating handles standard office, retail, and warehouse doors without flinching. Where we see it deployed most often is retrofit work — when the existing door frame has no room for mortised strikes and you need to ship installation within a tight timeline, surface mount is the only practical choice. The field-selectable 12/24VDC configuration is valuable on large mixed-site deployments where some buildings run 12V low-voltage systems and others run 24V; set the jumper, forget it. One caveat: the 240 mA draw at 24VDC is real, and we've seen power-supply spec-outs fail when integrators underbudgeted for multiple strikes on the same panel output. Verify your panel's relay supply amperage before committing. The door status switch output is dry-contact — works with any panel alarm input, no conversion needed. On balance, the CX-91S-12 is not the smallest or sexiest strike on the market, but for a working integrator who bills hours, it's as close to risk-free as electrified hardware gets.
Technical Highlights:
- 1,200 lbs holding force: Electromagnetic coil rated for 1,200 lbs pull — tested to withstand lateral and vertical load without chatter or drift. For reference, a typical single-leaf glass or aluminum door carries 400–600 lbs at mid-height; this leaves headroom for security frames and dual-leaf doors if needed.
- Field voltage configuration (12/24VDC): Jumper-selectable at installation. Allows one SKU to serve multiple panel architectures — valuable for system scaling and inventory consolidation across multi-site deployments.
- Door status switch (normally-open): Magnetic contact closure when strike is locked (coil energized). Wired directly into access control panel door alarm loop — no relay conversion, no extra modules. Provides real-time feedback on door position to the access log.
- Surface-mount geometry: 10.5″ W × 2.625″ H × 1.5625″ D footprint. Does not require frame mortising — critical for glass doors, aluminum frames, and retrofit work where structural modification is cost-prohibitive or impossible.
- MOV surge protection & inductive suppression: On-board metal oxide varistor prevents transient voltage spikes from relay switching. If your panel relay output lacks diode or RC filtering, the MOV shields the strike coil from back-EMF damage — extends hardware life and reduces nuisance failures.
Deployment Considerations:
- Power supply amperage: 240 mA at 24VDC per strike is non-trivial. On a panel with multiple relay outputs driving multiple strikes, verify the power supply rated amperage and distribution before installation. A 2A supply can safely drive 8+ strikes; a 1A supply will fault if all strike relays energize simultaneously.
- Relay output load rating: Confirm your access control panel's relay outputs are rated for inductive loads (minimum 24VDC 1A for a single strike). Legacy solid-state or low-current outputs may require an external relay buffer board.
- Frame material and mounting surface: Requires a metal strike plate or steel door frame for mounting. Will not fasten reliably to wood, composite, or plastic frames — verify substrate before design. Mounting template included; use it to confirm clearance and screw hole alignment before drilling.
- Door status switch wiring: Dry-contact NO terminal — wire into any panel door alarm or sensor input. Does not require power — status closure is magnetic, not powered. Confirm continuity during commissioning.
- Egress compliance: Verify your jurisdiction's life-safety codes permit electromagnetic strikes on exit doors. UL 1034 / ULC S533-15 certification covers burglary resistance; ADA and life-safety egress requirements may mandate fail-safe (unlocked on power loss) or secondary push-to-exit buttons. Design the release logic accordingly.
The CX-91S-12 is ideal for working integrators building wired access control systems on a per-door budget. It's not a networked smart lock, not IoT-enabled, and not suitable for cloud-first architectures — but if you're deploying a traditional hardwired or IP-panel-based system with local relay outputs, this strike will outlast your initial contract and require minimal troubleshooting. Explore the Camden catalog for complete strike sizing and voltage options.
