What this part is and what it does
The Siemens 3RK1300-1GS01-0AA0 is an EM 300 DS electromechanical direct starter designed for the ET 200X distributed I/O system. It's a self-contained motor starting unit that combines a contactor and a bimetal overload relay in one IP65 housing, rated for washdown environments. The setting range of 4.5...6.3 A means it's sized for small induction motors up to 2.2 kW at 400 V in AC-3 duty — the standard category for starting squirrel-cage motors under load. The AC-3 rating at 400 V is the real selection parameter here: 2.2 kW tells you the maximum motor it can switch on and off under full load. The bimetal overload protection tracks motor heating and trips on sustained overcurrent, while the integrated short-circuit protection is designed around circuit-breakers (type of short-circuit protection: circuit-breakers per). PROFIBUS DP onboard means this starter communicates directly with a PLC over the fieldbus — no separate gateway module needed. The 9-pole motor feeder and 9-pole power connection handle both the motor cable and the bus/auxiliary wiring through tab terminals.
Where it fits in a panel or on a machine
At 134 mm deep, 140 mm wide, and 270 mm tall, this starter is sized for the ET 200X enclosure family — it mounts directly into the distributed I/O station, not on a DIN rail in a central cabinet. The IP65 rating means the entire assembly is sealed against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets, so it can sit on the machine frame or in a washdown zone without a separate enclosure. The operating temperature range of 0...55 °C covers most factory-floor conditions but not freezer or high-heat applications. Tab terminals for the main current circuit are a quick-connect style — expect to use mating receptacles rather than ring lugs.