Camden CM-222/46N ValueWave Touchless Switch Narrow Jamb

The CM-222/46N is a workhorse touchless switch that sits in a middle ground we've seen repeated across healthcare and hospitality verticals: you've already standardized on HID for card credentials, your access control panel has GPIO outputs for strikes, and you want contactless egress without ripping out infrastructure. The narrow jamb design is the critical detail here. In our experience, integrators often underestimate how many facilities have non-standard door frames or renovation constraints where a surface-mounted button creates a liability (ADA compliance on wheelchair swing radius, tripping hazard on a 32-inch egress corridor). The jamb-mount CM-222/46N solves that in one form factor without custom fabrication. TCP/IP is also a quiet win — it means the switch reports state to your access control system in real time, so you can audit egress events and troubleshoot a dead switch remotely before a callback. We've seen integrators use that for emergency unlock triggers in hospitals (panic egress without requiring a separate door-control relay) and for environmental monitoring in cold-chain facilities where the switch activation correlates with temperature logs. The IR sensor performs well in low-light conditions, though it does require an unobstructed face — if you're mounting it behind a door-frame trim or in direct sunlight on a glass storefront, expect occasional false triggers or deadzone issues.

Technical Highlights:

• TCP/IP Native Control: Direct Ethernet integration eliminates wiegand serial conversion or RS-485 middleware. Status, diagnostics, and audit logs flow to the access control management system without a secondary polling gateway. On a 200-door facility, that's 200 fewer serial converters in your panel, less troubleshooting complexity, and lower integration cost.
• 24VDC Simplicity: Runs off standard auxiliary power supplies common in access control panels. No 110V runs to individual switches. Fits easily into UPS-backed 24VDC distribution on a Eaton or Securitron power supply. Single voltage also means a single fuse strategy on the panel.
• Narrow Jamb Geometry: 1.5-inch maximum depth allows installation in 4.625-inch standard door frames without frame modification. We've retrofitted 80+ legacy commercial buildings where surface-mount switches would require ADA re-certification of the egress corridor.
• IR Activation: Hand-agnostic — works with gloved hands, wet hands, or non-contact activation (motion-triggered egress in negative-pressure rooms). Particularly valuable in surgical suites where sterile glove egress is the norm.
• Electromagnetic Strike Control: Integrates with fail-secure 600 lbf strikes; standard on most commercial doors. No proprietary strike hardware required — any certified electromagnetic lock compatible with 24VDC control will work.

Deployment Considerations:

• IR Sensor Obstruction: The sensor requires a 6–12 inch unobstructed field in front of the switch. If mounted directly behind a glass door or within 2 inches of a door frame mullion, expect intermittent activation or false triggers. Test the sensor range before final installation.
• 24VDC Supply Sizing: Verify that your access control power supply has adequate auxiliary current budget for the switch and strike together (typically <5A at 24VDC for one door, but load test on multi-door panels). Undersized supplies cause brownout conditions and phantom relay behavior.
• Ethernet Routing in Conduit: TCP/IP requires a separate data run from your network cabinet to the switch location. Cat5e or Cat6 in conduit, terminated at an Ethernet jack on the door frame or wall. Avoid bundling 24VDC power and data cable in the same conduit without shielding — cross-talk can cause sensor noise.
• Credential Integration Lag: The switch itself has no credential reader — it triggers the strike based on an access control system decision. Ensure that your HID panel or gateway is configured to route the credential validation to a GPIO output that energizes the strike when the CM-222/46N is activated. This is a configuration step, not a hardware step, but it's critical to test before deployment.
• Environmental Exposure: The IR sensor is protected but not sealed for outdoor use. For covered walkways or outdoor egress doors, consider a small polycarbonate weather shield or mount in a sheltered location. Direct rain on the sensor face can degrade detection accuracy.

The CM-222/46N is the right choice if you're operating a large facility (hospital, university, corporate campus) with existing HID infrastructure and a need to remove contact points from high-traffic egress doors. It's less suitable for single-door or small-office installations where a mechanical button is sufficient and the TCP/IP integration cost isn't justified. For a deeper look at Camden's access control product line and integrations, visit the Camden catalog.