BEA 10MS41-SA Microwave Touchless Actuator - Stainless steel single gang - text + accessibility logo

If you're specifying a wave-to-open switch for an accessible entrance, the BEA 10MS41-SA is the one most facility managers and door contractors reach for. It's the single gang stainless steel version of BEA's Magic Switch MS41 family, fitted with the wheelchair accessibility logo rather than the hand logo. That distinction matters on ADA-required openings where the signage itself has to match accessibility standards. The SA suffix tells you exactly what you're getting - S for single gang, A for the accessibility logo.

The way it works is simple enough. You wave your hand, forearm, or even a cart handle across the front of the sensor and the door activates. No touching anything. The microwave radar inside the unit runs at 24.125 GHz and detects motion bidirectionally, meaning it catches movement from either side of the detection zone. That makes it practical for high-traffic corridors where people approach from different angles and distances throughout the day.

What Makes the MS41 Different from Other Touchless Switches

A lot of touchless actuators on the market use infrared detection. The MS41 doesn't. Microwave Doppler radar is more reliable in environments with changing temperatures, steam, or bright ambient light, which is exactly why hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, clean rooms, and surgical washdown areas specify it. Infrared can false-trigger or miss detections in those settings. The MS41 doesn't have that problem.

The stainless steel faceplate handles repeated cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants without corroding or degrading. It's IP55 rated out of the box, and if you're in a full washdown application or a sterile area where you need IP65, you can get there by running a bead of silicone around the faceplate perimeter during installation. No different unit required.

Adjusting Range and Hold Time in the Field

Two onboard potentiometers handle the setup. One adjusts the detection zone from 4 to 24 inches - turn it clockwise to increase sensitivity. The other sets how long the relay stays active after detection, anywhere from half a second to 30 seconds. You can also switch the unit to Toggle mode instead of Timer mode if you want the relay to stay latched until a second detection deactivates it. Both adjustments are made without any programming software, which keeps installation straightforward.

The audible alert can be dialed down or turned off completely for noise-sensitive environments. That silent mode setting is something hospital projects specifically need, and it's one of the features that gets overlooked on competing product pages.

Installing the 10MS41-SA

The 10MS41-SA mounts into a standard single gang wall box. Power comes from a SELV-compatible 12 to 24 VAC/DC supply. BEA makes compatible power supplies (10PS12-24 and 10PSST242) and a surface-mount single gang box (10MSBOXSGSM) if you don't have an in-wall rough-in. The relay output is a dry contact SPDT - COM, NO, and NC terminals available so it wires into virtually any door operator, access control panel, or automatic door opener without adapter wiring.

Specifications

Model: BEA 10MS41-SA

Series: BEA Magic Switch MS41

Plate Style: Single gang

Logo: Text + accessibility (wheelchair) logo, WAVE TO OPEN

Faceplate: Stainless steel

Detection Technology: Microwave Doppler radar, 24.125 GHz

Detection Range: 4 to 24 inches, adjustable

Detection Mode: Bidirectional motion

Output Mode: Timer (0.5 to 30 seconds) or Toggle

Relay: SPDT voltage-free contact (COM, NO, NC)

Max Voltage: 60 VDC / 125 VAC

Max Current: 1A resistive

Max Switching Power: 30W DC / 60 VA AC

Power Input: 12 to 24 VAC or 12 to 24 VDC

Power Consumption: Under 1.5W

Wire Gauge: 22 to 26 AWG

IP Rating: IP55 standard, IP65 with silicone

Temperature Range: -4°F to +131°F

Audible Alert: Adjustable, silent mode available

Illuminated Ring: Animated or static, configurable

Dimensions: 4.5" x 2.75" x 1.125"

Origin: USA

Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class B, Industry Canada RSS-210

American Locksets has carried BEA sensors and electric switches since 2001.