AC-3 is the motor-switching category per EN/IEC 60947-4-1 — it handles starting currents up to 6× rated current and breaks the motor at full load, so this 40 A rating means it switches a motor drawing up to 40 A running current, not just a resistive load. The coil is 24 V AC, a common control voltage for panel-based systems. It also carries AC-1 (resistive load) and AC-3e (enhanced motor) ratings, so the same contactor can serve heater banks or other non-inductive loads where the switching duty is less demanding.
Mounts on either a DIN rail or a plate, giving flexibility for new builds or retrofit into existing enclosures. The 3000 m altitude without derating covers most installations; above that, air density affects arc extinction and thermal dissipation.
Standards, approvals, and environmental robustness
Certified to EN/IEC 60947-1 (general rules), EN/IEC 60947-4-1 (contactors and motor-starters), and EN/IEC 60947-5-1 (control-circuit devices), plus the Chinese GB/T equivalents. Also complies with EN/IEC 60335-1 Clause 30.2 and EN/IEC 60335-2-40 Annex JJ for appliance applications — relevant if the contactor ends up in HVAC or commercial cooking equipment. Protective treatment TH conforms to IEC 60068-2-30 (damp heat, cyclic), meaning the contactor is treated for tropical/humid environments — pollution degree 3. This is standard for industrial control panels that are not climate-controlled. Mechanical robustness is specified for vibration (1.5 Gn open, 3 Gn closed) and shock (6 Gn open, 7 Gn closed), which covers most industrial machinery without needing additional dampening.
Safety-relevant timing for control circuits
The non-overlap time is guaranteed at 1.5 ms on energisation and 1.5 ms on de-energisation between NC and NO contacts. This matters when the contactor is used in a safety circuit or a reversing starter where simultaneous closure of NC and NO paths must be prevented — the 1.5 ms window ensures the break-before-make sequence is maintained even with contact wear.