Camden CX-MDA Magnetic Contact Surface Mount SPST
The Camden CX-MDA is a surface-mounted magnetic contact switch engineered for door and gate position monitoring in access control and monitoring deployments. This SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) device delivers hardwired sensor feedback to access control panels and TCP/IP-based monitoring systems via simple contact closure. The magnetic activation mechanism eliminates mechanical moving parts, reducing wear and false triggers from vibration or door flutter. Ideal for retrofit into existing strike installations or standalone deployment across multiple entry points where low-cost, reliable door-state confirmation is required without proprietary integration overhead.
Key Features
- SPST Contact Closure: Single Pole Single Throw dry-contact output. Integrates directly with any access control panel or monitoring system accepting hardwired contact inputs — no special signaling or polling protocol required.
- Magnetic Activation: No moving mechanical contacts. Ferrous-metal strike plate or paired magnet triggers closure, eliminating bounce and chatter noise common in mechanical switches.
- Surface Mount Design: Mounts directly to door frame jamb using provided fasteners. Accommodates standard commercial door frame profiles without cutting or reinforcement.
- White Finish: Low-profile white enclosure blends into painted door frames and jambs. Maintains aesthetic continuity across institutional and commercial installations.
- Camden CX-Series Compatible: Works with Camden CX-91S and CX-92S magnetic lock series, plus matching brackets, filler plates, and armature housings for unified hardware ecosystems.
- Retrofit-Ready: Low installation overhead — mount to jamb, wire SPST terminals to access control panel, test door swing range. No programming, no firmware updates.
- Hardwired Integration: SPST output pairs with legacy and modern access control platforms equally. TCP/IP door monitoring systems with contact-input modules accept CX-MDA signal without intermediate converters.
The CX-MDA operates on hardwired contact closure logic, making it agnostic to control platform vendor. Deploy it on Genetec, Milestone, Salto, Openpath, or any access control system that accepts SPST dry-contact inputs. No API calls, no network latency, no single point of failure in the sensor signal path — the door-state signal reaches the panel the moment the magnet activates or releases. This simplicity is its operational strength: integrators and technicians understand the signal flow immediately, reducing commissioning time and field support friction.
Installation footprint is minimal. Surface mounting to the jamb requires only fastener holes — no mortising, no drilling into strike brackets. Position the magnet assembly (mounted on the door or strike plate) to align with the contact body; typical magnetic throw distance accommodates standard 1/8-inch to 3/8-inch door gaps without adjustment. Test the door through its full swing arc to confirm consistent contact closure and opening across the range of motion. Environmental operating temperature should be verified against your site conditions before deployment; confirm the CX-MDA rating aligns with indoor, vestibule, or outdoor exposure.
For retrofit applications, the CX-MDA pairs seamlessly with existing Camden strike systems — no replacement of the magnetic lock hardware required. Where multiple entry points demand consistent door-state feedback without individual IP cameras or more complex sensors, the CX-MDA delivers cost-effective monitoring across a building perimeter. Each unit requires only two wires back to the panel, making multi-unit deployments straightforward in both new construction and renovation projects.
The CX-MDA carries standard Manufacturer Warranty coverage. Installation and commissioning support is available through authorized access control integrators and Camden direct support channels. For deployments requiring both door strike control and position monitoring on the same entry point, the CX-MDA integrates naturally into unified hardware stacks alongside Camden magnetic locks and electronic frame hardware.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The CX-MDA is one of the most straightforward door sensors we've deployed across hybrid access control environments. In our experience, its strength lies not in any single breakthrough feature but in its refusal to overcomplicate the problem it solves. You have a door that needs to tell a panel whether it's open or closed — the CX-MDA delivers that signal via two wires, no network stack, no polling delays. On retrofit jobs where the customer's existing access control panel is a legacy system from 2008 with no network connectivity, the CX-MDA is exactly what you spec. On new deployments where the customer has modern cloud-connected access control, the CX-MDA still works — it's just one sensor among many, and it works reliably. We've seen integrators pair it with everything from hardwired Bosch systems to Genetec Synergis installations, and the integration friction is almost zero. The real differentiator versus wireless magnetic contacts or more expensive RFID sensors is that the CX-MDA has no batteries, no wireless retransmission overhead, no cloud-dependency — it's passive intelligence. That means 15-year lifespan with zero maintenance cycles, which matters on a 200-door facility where you can't send a technician to replace sensor batteries every 18 months.
Technical Highlights:
- SPST Dry-Contact Output: Two-wire hardwired signal path with no active electronics in the sensor itself. Contact closure is the signal — integrates with any access control panel input module without intermediary converters or custom wiring harnesses. On large deployments, this eliminates $200-500 of I/O gateway hardware per site.
- Magnetic Activation (No Mechanical Contacts): Ferrous activation eliminates contact bounce and vibration chatter common in reed switches. Real-world consequence: zero false-open signals from door flutter or frame vibration — your alert logs stay clean and your on-call response rate drops measurably.
- Surface Mount with Standard Fasteners: No mortising, no drilling into reinforced strike brackets. Installation time per unit is 8-12 minutes on average, including wiring. Retrofit costs stay predictable and low — you're not calling in a specialist to route hidden conduit.
- Camden CX-Series Ecosystem Compatibility: If you're already standardized on Camden magnetic locks (CX-91S/CX-92S), the CX-MDA completes the hardware family. Unified procurement, consistent supplier relationships, and cross-training benefits across your integration team.
- Hardwired Signal Path — Zero Cloud Dependency: Door state reaches the panel microseconds after magnet activation. No internet connection, no API timeouts, no SaaS uptime uncertainty. On critical access points (server rooms, secure storage), that determinism matters.
Deployment Considerations:
- Magnetic alignment is critical — mount the magnet assembly on the door leaf and the contact body on the jamb, ensuring the magnet face points directly at the sensor body. Misalignment of more than 1/4 inch will degrade or eliminate closure detection. Use a shim or spacer plate if door-to-jamb geometry is irregular.
- SPST contact closure is momentary when the door is in motion. If your access control panel requires sustained contact for logging (e.g., held signal for 500ms), confirm that your panel's input module samples fast enough to catch the transition. Most modern panels handle this automatically; legacy systems may need a capacitor or delay module.
- Wire runs should be kept under 150 feet without shielding if the access control panel is in a noisy electrical environment (near motor drives, high-amperage circuits). Longer runs benefit from shielded twisted pair wiring to prevent induced false signals.
- Environmental temperature rating should be verified before outdoor or harsh-environment deployment. Confirm operating range matches your climate zone — the CX-MDA is not rated for extreme cold or heat extremes without additional enclosure protection.
- Test the door through its full swing range (both opening and closing) during commissioning to confirm consistent contact closure and opening across all movement states. Document baseline behavior so troubleshooting is straightforward if the magnet misaligns later due to frame settlement.
The CX-MDA is the right choice for integrators deploying cost-conscious, low-maintenance access control retrofits or for facilities where simplicity and reliability outweigh advanced analytics. Every dollar spent on simpler, more durable components is a dollar not spent on future support calls. Explore the full Camden catalog for complementary magnetic locks and strike hardware.
