What this direct starter does on an ET 200X node
The Siemens 3RK1300-1ES01-0AA3 is an EM 300 DS electromechanical direct starter designed for the ET 200X distributed I/O system — it's a motor start-and-protect block that sits out on the machine, not back in a central cabinet. Rated for 1.5 kW at AC-3 duty on a 400 V supply, it covers small three-phase motors — pumps, conveyors, spindle drives — with a setting range of 2.8 to 4.0 A via its bimetal overload relay. The IP65 enclosure means it handles washdown zones and dusty environments without an extra box; you can mount it directly on the machine frame.
The 1.5 kW rating at AC-3 (400 V) is the motor-switching figure that matters — it tells you the starter can handle the inrush of a standard induction motor up to that load. The 2.8–4.0 A setting range on the bimetal relay lets you dial in the exact full-load current of the motor, so you protect against overload without nuisance tripping. Operating voltage range is 400 to 500 V AC, so it works on 400 V and 480 V line supplies common in European and North American industrial plants.
Built-in brake output and bus communication
This variant includes a motor brake output — a contact that switches an externally supplied brake (typically 400 V AC) for holding loads on vertical axes or conveyors. That saves an external brake rectifier or contactor. The unit communicates over PROFIBUS DP, so it reports status and accepts start/stop commands directly from the PLC without hardwired control wires. The 9-pole motor feeder and 9-pole power connection mate with the ET 200X system cabling — tab terminals for the main circuit, with the bus connection handled through the backplane.
Panel and field integration notes
Physical footprint: 134 mm deep, 140 mm wide, 270 mm tall. The IP65 rating means the housing is sealed — no DIN-rail mounting inside a cabinet; it bolts directly to a machine frame or mounting plate. Ambient operating range is 0 to 55 °C, so it's fine for most production-floor environments but not for freezers or ovens. The electromechanical design uses a solenoid coil to pull in the main contacts — it's a proven, field-serviceable architecture; if the coil fails, you swap the entire starter block rather than try to rewind it in the field.