Camden CX-91S-06-BK 600 lbs Surface Mount Magnetic Lock
The Camden CX-91S-06-BK is a 600 lbs holding-force electromagnetic lock engineered for surface-mount single-door access control installations. Operating on 24VDC with 240mA draw, it provides the electromagnetic retention needed for card-reader, keypad, and networked door controller integrations without requiring frame mortising or structural modification. The black powder-coat finish blends into both visible and concealed door frame configurations, making it suitable for new construction and retrofit deployments across commercial entry, egress, and secured-corridor applications.
Key Features
- 600 lbs Holding Force: Electromagnetic retention rated for 600 lbs — sufficient for standard single commercial doors (up to 48 inches wide) without mechanical deadbolts or secondary locking hardware.
- 24VDC Operation: Low-voltage DC input (24VDC, 240mA nominal draw) simplifies integration with any access control relay, card reader controller, or networked door strike output without separate power conversion.
- Surface Mount, No Mortising: Bracket-mounted design eliminates frame cutting and reinforcement — faster installation, lower labor cost, reversible if system changes.
- Integrated Surge Protection: On-board MOV transient suppression prevents power spike damage to the lock and connected control circuits — no separate conditioning module required.
- Door Status Switch Included: Integrated or provided status switch enables door-open monitoring and alarm integration with access control panels and NVRs.
- Universal Frame Compatibility: Surface brackets fit standard 1.75-inch and 2-inch commercial aluminum and steel door frames; verify frame material before ordering strike hardware.
- Access-Agnostic Control: Works with card readers, biometric terminals, keypads, and relay-based requests-to-exit (RTE) buttons — no proprietary reader dependency.
- Low-Power Draw: 240mA at 24VDC (less than 6W) — economical to run on backup power supplies and UPS systems for fail-safe or fail-secure configurations.
The CX-91S-06-BK eliminates the installation complexity and cost of mortise strikes without sacrificing holding force. For single-door installations where frame modification is impractical or undesirable, surface-mount electromagnetic locks reduce integration time and total system cost. The low-voltage DC operation and standard bracket fitment make this lock compatible with entry-level access control systems and enterprise networked platforms alike.
Integration is straightforward: the lock accepts 24VDC from any access control relay output, request-to-exit button circuit, or door controller. Pair it with a door-position sensor (reed switch, magnetic contact) to close the loop on unauthorized door propping or forced-entry attempts. The included status switch connects to your access control panel's input terminal or NVR zone input for real-time door-state reporting. Current draw (240mA) is negligible on most power supplies rated for 2-4 amp loads at 24VDC, but confirm capacity before installation if you're daisy-chaining multiple locks on a single supply.
Mounting is template-guided: position the strike and armature plate to ensure full contact and even pressure distribution under load. Tighten all fasteners with a torque driver set to specification — loose bolts drift under repeated lock/unlock cycling, reducing holding force and introducing operational noise. The black finish resists fingerprints and casual damage better than bare aluminum, though in high-traffic areas expect light surface scratching. For corrosive environments (salt air, harsh chemicals), verify corrosion resistance with Camden technical support or consider stainless-steel variants if available for your frame type.
The CX-91S-06-BK carries manufacturer warranty coverage and is compatible with all major access control platforms — Genetec, Salto, HID, Salto, and legacy panel-based systems that can supply 24VDC DC output. ONVIF-compliant networked door controllers can trigger the lock via relay modules. Consult the datasheet for wiring diagrams and voltage/current specifications before specifying into a multi-door system design.
Jerry TildsenPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed the Camden CX-91S line on hundreds of single-door access control retrofits, and the CX-91S-06-BK is our go-to for budgeted projects where frame mortising is off the table or where the door frame material won't support a mortise strike. The 600 lbs holding force is the ceiling for standard commercial aluminum frames — anything heavier (glass vestibules, warehouse security gates) requires either a higher-capacity lock or dual-lock redundancy. What makes this lock operationally reliable is its simplicity: 24VDC in, electromagnetic retention out, no solenoid chatter, no carrier-signal complexity. On retrofit jobs, surface mounting saves 2-4 hours of installation labor per door compared to mortise models, and that adds up fast on 10-door or 20-door deployments. The integrated status switch is often overlooked but essential — we've seen field techs skip it and then lose alarm reporting because the door-open contact was wired to a relay module instead of the panel directly.
Technical Highlights:
- 600 lbs Holding Force: Rated for standard commercial single doors up to 48 inches without secondary mechanical deadbolts. Beyond that width or on high-traffic secured areas, dual-lock configurations or higher-capacity mortise strikes become necessary. Know your door width and traffic frequency — 600 lbs is a hard ceiling, not a soft target.
- 24VDC, 240mA Draw: Low-power operation means this lock integrates onto small access control power supplies and UPS backup systems without overload risk. We typically size a 24VDC 2A power supply for up to 8 locks of this type, accounting for door sensors and readers on the same rail.
- Surface Mount Eliminates Frame Prep: No mortise saw, no alignment jigs, no plaster or steel filing — brackets bolt to the frame face. On retrofit jobs in occupied buildings, this eliminates noise complaints and dust control overhead.
- On-Board MOV Surge Protection: Electromagnetic locks are inductive loads and generate back-EMF transients when de-energized. The built-in MOV clamps voltage spikes, preventing relay contact erosion and downstream controller damage. In corrosive or RF-rich environments, we still add external suppression, but the on-board protection handles normal building electrical noise.
- Universal 24VDC Relay Compatibility: Works with any access control relay that can switch 24VDC DC. No proprietary control cards, no field-selectable firmware — if your reader can output a dry 24VDC contact, this lock energizes immediately and predictably.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify door frame material (aluminum vs. steel) and nominal width before ordering — bracket sets are frame-specific, and a 2-inch aluminum bracket won't fit a 1.75-inch steel frame securely. Measure twice, order once.
- Current draw (240mA) is modest, but on systems with 8+ locks, confirm your 24VDC power supply has at least 2A capacity plus 20% headroom for inrush. Undersized supplies introduce voltage sag, reducing holding force and introducing chatter.
- Status switch wiring must reach your access control panel or door sensor input directly — don't daisy-chain the switch through relay modules or you lose real-time open-door reporting. Dedicate a control panel input zone to each lock.
- Mounting bolts require periodic re-torquing during the first month of operation — surface-mount brackets experience vibration under repeated locking/unlocking, and loose fasteners degrade holding force. Include bolt-check in your first quarterly maintenance visit.
- Request-to-exit (RTE) button integration is straightforward on single-door installations, but on multi-door suites, ensure each RTE button triggers only its assigned lock relay — cross-wiring opens the wrong door and triggers false alarms.
- Black powder-coat finish is durable on indoor installations but will show fingerprints in high-touch areas. Specify stainless-steel versions if salt-spray or chemical-wash environments apply.
The CX-91S-06-BK is the right choice for single-door access retrofits, emergency exits, and secured-corridor applications where surface mounting is mandatory or preferred. It's not a fit for multi-door scaled deployments (more than 4-6 doors) without redundancy planning, and it's not suitable for heavy-duty industrial or exterior gates. For that scope, evaluate Camden's higher-capacity mortise or fail-safe models. Integrators and system architects familiar with simple 24VDC relay logic will find this lock straightforward to specify and install. Start with the datasheet to confirm frame material compatibility, and explore the broader Camden catalog for alternative holding forces and form factors.
