A touchless switch for a powered door has to suit the wall or jamb it goes on, the power at that spot and the input it feeds. BEA's Magic Switch families split along those lines, and each shape has its own surface box.
BEA Magic Switch touchless actuators compared
The MS31, MS41 and MS42 sense motion by microwave, at a range BEA gives as 4 to 24 inches, adjustable. The MS51 and MS51W use active infrared with two sensors. Power and output differ too:
| Model | Sensing and power | Output |
|---|---|---|
| MS31 | Microwave, 4 to 24 in; 12 to 24 V AC or DC | Relay, voltage-free, 1 A |
| MS41 | Microwave, 4 to 24 in; 12 to 24 V AC or DC | Relay, voltage-free, 1 A |
| MS42 | Microwave, 4 to 24 in; 12 to 24 V AC or DC | Electronic relay, 100 mA |
| MS51 | Infrared, up to 6 or 12 in; two AA batteries | Electronic relay, 100 mA |
| MS51W | Infrared, up to 6 or 12 in; two AA batteries | Built-in 900 MHz transmitter |
BEA rates the MS31 and MS41 relays at up to 60 V DC or 125 V AC, the MS42 electronic relay at 42 V DC or 30 V AC and the MS51 at 42 V AC or DC. Output hold time on the MS31 and MS41 runs from 0.5 to 30 seconds; the MS42 sheet lists 0.5 second in pulse mode.
Faceplates, shapes and sizes
| Model | Faceplate | Shapes |
|---|---|---|
| MS31 | Polycarbonate, black, gray or white | Single and double gang (one kit), jamb, 6 in round |
| MS41 | Stainless steel | Single gang, double gang, jamb, 6 in round |
| MS42 | Stainless steel | Single gang, double gang, round |
| MS51, MS51W | Stainless steel | Single gang, double gang, jamb, 6 in round |
The MS31, MS41 and MS51 sheets print the same heights and widths: 4-1/2 x 2-3/4 inches for single gang, 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 for double gang, 4-1/2 x 1-3/4 for jamb. Enclosures are rated IP54 on the MS31, IP55 on the MS41 and MS42 and IP65 on the MS51 and MS51W, whose sheets also print a wider temperature range: -22 to 158 F against -4 to 131 F for the microwave models.
BEA aims the MS41 and MS42 at sterile and wash-down areas, naming surgical, clean room and pharmaceutical settings. Both have an illuminated ring, animated or static, and an audible alert with a silent mode.
Wired or battery: MS51 and MS51W
The MS51 runs on two AA batteries and switches an electronic relay. BEA says it may be hardwired or connected to wireless transmitters, and its cut sheet lists the 10TD900TR 900 MHz retrofit transmitter and the 10RD900 receiver as related products. The MS51W has the 900 MHz transmitter built in; BEA notes that the matching receiver is sold separately.
Battery life depends on the range setting. At 150 activations a day, BEA gives a maximum of 2 years on the default long range (12 inches maximum) and 3 years on the short range (6 inches maximum), adding that some combinations of settings can affect it. The MS51W also comes as kits: 10MS51W-SKIT holds two single gang sensors, two 10MSBOXSGSM boxes and a 10RD900 receiver, and 10MS51W-DKIT the double gang equivalent. Pairing transmitters and receivers by frequency is covered in our BEA push plates and wireless kits guide.
MS42 and the restroom kits
The MS42 adds a dry contact input that, according to BEA, connects directly to access control for remote activation, deactivation and live LED status. BEA lists five versions:
- 10MS42-SO and 10MS42-SL: single gang, Wave to Open or Wave to Lock
- 10MS42-DO and 10MS42-DL: double gang, Wave to Open or Wave to Lock
- 10MS42-RO: round, Wave to Open
BEA's restroom kits for single-occupancy rooms, normally locked or normally unlocked, are built on the MS42 in single or double gang. 10MSRR-SGPS and 10MSRR-DGPS are the kits with power supply, shown with BEA's 10PS-RR power supply and logic module; 10MSRR-S and 10MSRR-D, for rooms that already have a power supply, are shown with a 10BR3X logic module. The drawing of the double gang kit shows a Wave to Open switch outside, Wave to Lock and Wave to Open switches inside and a 50.5283 door position switch. Red and green LEDs and audible alerts show whether the room is in use and whether the door is locked.
How to read a BEA 10MS41 or 10MS31 number
On the MS41, MS51 and MS51W cut sheets the letter after the dash gives the shape: S single gang, D double gang, R round, J jamb. What follows it gives the face:
| Ending | Face |
|---|---|
| none (10MS41-S) | Text and hand logo |
| A (10MS41-SA) | Text and accessibility logo |
| P (10MS41-SP) | Plain |
| PHL, PAL (MS41) | Hand logo, accessibility logo |
| T (10MS51-ST) | Wave to Open text only |
| AF, single gang (10MS51-SAF) | French text and accessibility logo |
The MS31 is ordered by kit and color instead: 10MS31U comes with single and double gang plates, 10MS31J with a jamb plate and 10MS31R with a 6 inch round plate, each ending in -B, -G or -W for black, gray or white. These kits carry text and logo; for an accessibility logo or a plain face, BEA lists separate MS31 Custom plates in every shape.
Which box goes with which Magic Switch
BEA makes one surface-mount Magic Switch box per shape. Its reference guide marks that box as recommended for the MS31, MS41 and MS51, and the MS42 and MS51W sheets list these boxes as mounting options.
| Box | Shape; listed for |
|---|---|
| 10MSBOXSGSM | Single gang; MS31, MS41, MS42, MS51, MS51W |
| 10MSBOXDGSM | Double gang; MS31, MS41, MS42, MS51, MS51W |
| 10MSBOXRNDSM | 6 in round; MS31, MS41, MS42, MS51, MS51W |
| 10MSBOXJAMBSM | Jamb; MS31, MS41, MS51, MS51W |
For the MS31, MS41 and MS51 the guide also lists 10BOX24SGSM for single gang plates, 10BOXDGSM for double gang, 10BOXJAMBST for jamb, and electrical boxes BEA does not sell: double gang for double gang plates, single gang for round ones. Push plate boxes 10BOX45SQSM, 10BOX475SQSM and 10BOX45SQFM (double gang plates) and 10BOX6RNDSM (round plates) need an adapter bracket, according to the guide.
BEA documents and related guides
BEA posts cut sheets on each product page: MS31, MS41, MS42, MS51, MS51W and the restroom kit. For installation, wiring and settings, follow BEA's instructions for your model.
For another maker's touchless switches, see our Camden door activation switches guide; for the operators these switches trigger, our automatic door operator manuals. Our BEA page lists the brand's items in our store.
Questions about a Magic Switch number or box? Our customer support team is available Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time, at 1-888-800-7789 or [email protected].
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