BEA Push Plates and Wireless Kits Explained: Plate Sizes, Boxes, 900 and 433 MHz Transmitters and Receivers

Ordering a BEA push plate for an automatic door means getting three things right: a plate that fits the box in the wall or jamb, the face the opening calls for, and, on a wireless plate, a transmitter that works with the receiver at the operator.

BEA push plate sizes and the boxes that fit them

The 4-1/2 and 4-3/4 inch square plates differ by only 1/4 inch, yet BEA lists a separate box for each. The table shows one text and logo plate per size with BEA's surface (SM) and flush (FM) boxes.

The reference guide adds double gang boxes, escutcheons, bollards and standard electrical boxes (not sold by BEA) for some plates. On the double gang surface box 10BOXDGSM, the 4-3/4 inch square and 6 inch plates need the 10BRINGC adapter. The push plate user guide says a weather ring, such as 10WRSQ475 for the 4-3/4 inch square, goes on before the plate is fastened to the box.

Jamb and vestibule plates

BEA's jamb plates fit places with limited space, such as guide rails. The narrow 1-1/2 x 4-3/4 inch plates (10PBJ, 10PBJ1 and others) fit the 10BOXJAMBSM surface box or the 10BOXJAMBFM flush box, and BEA's jamb packages combine plates such as 10PBJ1 with a 10T300MINIPB (300 MHz), 10TD433PB3V (433 MHz) or 10TD900PB (900 MHz) transmitter. The wider 1-3/4 x 4-1/2 inch plates, such as the microswitch model 10PBJMS1, use the 10BOXJAMBST box, which BEA marks hardwired only.

The vestibule plate 10PBDGP1 combines two jamb style plates in a 4-3/4 inch square faceplate. It mounts on the 4-3/4 inch square boxes and BEA's double gang boxes with the 50.5016 adapter ring, included with the plate according to its cut sheet.

How to read a BEA push plate number

In BEA's cut sheets and order forms, every plate, box, transmitter and receiver number starts with 10. The cut sheets do not say what the 10 stands for, so keep it when you search or order.

In BEA's model table the square plates begin 10PBS, the round ones 10PBR and the jamb plates 10PBJ. The 4-1/2 inch plates add 45 (10PBS45, 10PBR45) and the 6 inch square adds 6 (10PBS6), while the 4-3/4 inch square and the 6 inch round carry no size code. The ending names the face, as in the 4-3/4 inch square series:

Other sizes reuse several of these endings (10PBS451, 10PBS45LL, 10PBS4510), but not every face exists in every size. BEA lists the Press to Operate Door legend (10PBS45POD) only for the 4-1/2 inch square plate, and Push to Slow with braille (10PBJSREV) only for a jamb plate.

BEA wireless push plate kits: what goes where

Apart from the hardwired-only wide jamb plates, a BEA plate can be wired straight to the door operator or to a transmitter, which the user guides place inside the box behind the plate. The receiver is powered at 12 to 24 V AC or DC by the door control or a transformer. BEA's Push Plate packages bundle one or two plates with matching boxes, a transmitter for each plate and one receiver. Our product description of the 10PBS1-10TD900-10RD900 kit lists two 4-3/4 inch square plates, two 900 MHz transmitters and a receiver, and no mounting boxes.

900 MHz (10RD900) and 433 MHz (10RD433) parts

Pair the parts by frequency. BEA's package order forms have you choose the transmitter frequency and then a receiver that matches it: a 10TD900PB goes with a 10RD900, a 10TD433PB9V or 10TD433PB3V with a 10RD433 or 10RD433EH. If the door already has a BEA receiver, check which one first. EH stands for extended hold: the receiver stays active while the transmitter is held down and starts its timer on release.

BEA says 900 MHz carries farther in line of sight than legacy frequencies and gets through walls, doors and low-emissivity glass better. The 900 MHz user guide programs the universal handheld 10TD900HH1U to the receiver with the same learn steps as a standard handheld, and it warns that once a receiver has learned a universal transmitter, any BEA universal transmitter can operate that door.

Receivers, maglocks and the BR3-X logic module

BEA does not intend these receivers for direct use with a maglock or an electric strike, because of possible damage from inductive load kickback. The user guides call for a logic module such as the BR3, or an isolation relay, in between, and BEA's FAQ names the BR3-X, a programmable 3-relay logic module, as the part that carries the lock's electric load. For maglocks and strikes in general, see our electrified door hardware guide.

For the operators, see our automatic door operator manuals; for another maker's plates, our Camden door activation switches guide.

Sensors do a different job: IXIO-DT1

A push plate waits for a press; a sensor does not. BEA describes the IXIO-DT1 as a dual technology motion and presence sensor for automatic sliding doors, combining microwave activation with infrared presence detection.

BEA documents for installation and wiring

BEA posts cut sheets and user guides under Downloads on its product pages, such as the 4.75 inch square push plates and the 900 MHz wireless family, and the package order forms under Push Plate Packages. Follow them for installation, wiring and programming.

Not sure which box or receiver you have? Our customer support team is available Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time, at 1-888-800-7789 or [email protected].