The Schneider Electric TeSys F LC3F185E7 is a pre-wired star delta starter built around three contactors — line, star, and delta — in a single assembly. It's designed for motor control in AC-3 duty, meaning it handles starting and stopping of squirrel-cage motors under load. At 380/400 V AC 50/60 Hz it's rated for 160 kW; at 440 V that climbs to 185 kW. The control circuit runs on 48 V AC 50/60 Hz, with an inrush of 805 VA at 50 Hz and 970 VA at 60 Hz. The contactor composition is 3 x 3 NO power poles, with auxiliary contacts pre-configured: 1 NC and 1 NO on the star contactor, 2 NC and 1 NO on the line contactor, and 1 NC and 2 NO on the delta contactor. That's enough aux for basic interlocking and status feedback without adding blocks.
The AC-3 rating at 160 kW (400 V) is the headline number — that's the motor full-load current this starter can switch under IEC 60947-4-1. The rated breaking capacity is 1480 A, and the making capacity is 1850 A, both per the same standard. That means it can close onto a stalled rotor and interrupt a locked-rotor fault without welding the contacts. The associated fuse recommendation is 315 A gG or 200 A aM up to 440 V — that's your short-circuit backup, not the running protection. For a star delta starter that's a solid number — it'll handle frequent starting on conveyor or pump duty without wearing out the contactor tips prematurely. The closing time is 20 to 35 ms, opening 7 to 15 ms. The coil is 48 V AC 50/60 Hz, with a pickup range of 0.85 to 1.1 Uc and dropout at 0.35 to 0.55 Uc. That's a wide dropout margin — it stays pulled in through sags down to about 40 V, but drops cleanly below about 26 V. Heat dissipation is 18 to 24 W, so factor that into enclosure cooling if you're packing several starters in one panel.
Mounts on a plate — not DIN rail — so plan for a backplate or sub-panel. Dimensions are 20.7 in (525 mm) wide, 9.3 in (235 mm) deep, and 4.3 in (110 mm) tall. Power connections are M8 bolted, lugs, or busbar (25 x 3 mm). Control circuit uses screw clamp terminals accepting 1 to 4 mm² flexible or solid. Tightening torque is 159.3 lbf.in (18 N.m) on the power side and 10.6 lbf.in (1.2 N.m) on the control side. It's pre-wired — the interconnections between the three contactors are already made. There's no start delta mechanical interlock; the electrical interlock is handled by the auxiliary contacts. The front face carries IP20 protection with shrouds per IEC 60529 and VDE 0106, so it's touch-safe once installed but not washdown-rated.
Standards compliance covers IEC 60947-1, IEC 60947-4-1, EN 60947-1, EN 60947-4-1, and JIS C8201-4-1. Rated insulation voltage is 1000 V per IEC 60947-4-1 and 1500 V per VDE 0110 group C. Protective treatment is TH (tropicalized) for humid environments.