The VW3AE1801 is a key-operated selector switch that toggles drive control between local (keypad) and remote (fieldbus/terminals) sources. It mounts in the door of an Altivar floor-standing enclosure with separate air flows or the compact version — the same physical footprint as the standard door-mounted accessory slot.
Schneider lists this part as obsolete.
The switch is designed for the Altivar 71 Plus, Altivar 71 Plus-LH, Altivar 61 Plus, and Altivar 61 Plus-LH drive ranges. It fits the floor-standing enclosure variant with separate air flows, as well as the compact version. The key switch provides a physical interlock for local/remote selection — a common requirement for safety isolation during commissioning or maintenance.