The VW3AP2002 is a PTC relay accessory for the Altivar Process ATV600 and ATV900 drive families. It provides ATEX-certified motor monitoring — meaning it detects thermal overload in the motor winding via a PTC probe and trips the drive before the winding exceeds its temperature class. This is the part you add when the driven equipment is in a potentially explosive atmosphere and the motor needs Ex-approved thermal protection. It is classified as a relay accessory and is destined for compact drive system integration. The ATEX certificate on the PTC relay is the key differentiator here — standard motor PTC relays lack the Ex approval this carries, so if your line requires ATEX zone compliance, this is the specific part the BOM calls for.
Sourcing reality — what the lifecycle means
One critical sourcing constraint: the VW3AP2002 cannot be ordered alone — it is only available in combination with a standard enclosure. That means the procurement desk needs to pair it with the correct drive enclosure on the same purchase order. If your BOM lists it standalone, the system will reject the order; plan the line item as a kit or bundled line.
Integration note — what the ATEX rating governs
The ATEX certificate on this PTC relay means the thermal monitoring loop meets the requirements of the ATEX directive for equipment in explosive atmospheres. In practice, when the PTC probe in the motor winding reaches its rated trip temperature (typically around 130–150 °C depending on the motor insulation class), the relay opens the safe-state circuit and the drive issues a fault stop. This is not a general-purpose PTC relay — it is specifically listed for Ex-duty motor protection. Mounting is inside the standard drive enclosure — the relay itself is a DIN-rail component that connects to the drive's PTC input terminals. The wiring path is: PTC probe from the motor terminal box → shielded cable back to the relay → relay output to the drive's digital input configured for PTC fault. The ATEX certification covers the entire loop, not just the relay module.