The Schneider Electric LC1K16105FC72 is a TeSys K three-pole contactor rated for motor control in AC-3 duty up to 16 A at 440 V, and resistive (AC-1) loads. The 36 V AC coil includes a built-in bidirectional peak-limiting diode suppressor, so you don't need to add an external snubber across the coil terminals. Motor power capability spans 4 kW at 480 V, 5.5 kW at 440 V, and 7.5 kW at 380–415 V, all at 50/60 Hz. That covers most common three-phase motor sizes in a small panel or machine tool. The AC-3 utilisation category is what matters for switching squirrel-cage motors — it means the contactor is tested to make and break locked-rotor current. The AC-1 rating covers resistive heater or lighting loads where the switching stress is lower.
The 1.3 W heat dissipation is low enough that multiple units can be ganged on the rail without forced cooling in a typical enclosure. The housing carries a V1 flame-retardance rating per UL 94, meaning it self-extinguishes within 30 seconds if ignited — a standard requirement for panel components in most industrial control panels.
The rated operational current (Ie) is 16 A in AC-3 at ≤440 V, but the short-time withstand (Icw) tells you what the contacts can survive during a fault: 115 A for 1 second on the power circuit, tapering to 55 A for 1 minute. That 1-second rating is the one to check against upstream breaker coordination — if your branch circuit protective device clears faster than 1 s, you're fine. For a 7.5 kW motor at 380–415 V, the full-load current is around 14–15 A, so this contactor lands right at the sweet spot with a small margin.
Compliance documentation is available from Schneider for RoHS, REACH, and UL/CSA/CE certifications. The V1 flame rating and the built-in coil suppression mean it meets common panel-build requirements without extra components.