What this AS-i compact starter is and what it does
The Siemens 3RK1322-0GS02-0AA4 is an AS-interface compact starter in the SIRIUS family — a fully integrated direct-on-line motor starter designed for decentralized control cabinets or machine-mounted enclosures. It combines a bimetal motor protection relay, electromechanical switching contact, and short-circuit protection via circuit-breakers into a single IP65 housing, so it can live on the machine frame or in a washdown zone without a separate panel. Rated for 0.18 kW at 400 V AC-3 duty, it handles small three-phase motors — conveyors, pumps, fans — that draw between 0.45 A and 0.63 A full-load. The setting range is narrow; this is a fixed-size starter for a specific motor current, not a wide-adjustment overload. If your motor nameplate falls outside that band, this part won't cover it. The AS-interface protocol connection means it talks directly to the fieldbus without a separate gateway module — the starter carries two integrated inputs for limit switches or pushbuttons, and a motor brake output rated for 500 V DC / 1 A. That brake contact is a differentiator: it lets the starter control a holding brake on vertical-axis loads without an extra contactor.
IP65 and the deployment context
With an IP65 protection class, the housing and all connections are sealed against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets. This starter is meant for machine-mounting in food processing, packaging lines, or material handling where washdown is routine. The tab terminals for the main current circuit accept fast-on connectors — typical for distributed installations where you want quick disconnect without tools. The operating temperature range of -25 to +55 °C covers most factory-floor environments, including unheated warehouses. Below -25 °C the bimetal trip curve shifts; above +55 °C you'd need to derate or provide forced ventilation.
Short-circuit performance and coordination
The maximum short-circuit breaking capacity (Icu) is rated at 50,000 A at 400 V. That's a high-fault rating for a 0.18 kW starter — it means this device can be installed on a supply with significant fault current without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream to protect it. The circuit-breaker type of short-circuit protection (Type 2 coordination) lets you use a standard motor-protective breaker ahead of it, keeping selectivity simple.
Dimensions and panel fit
The housing measures 270 mm high, 120 mm wide, and 190 mm deep. That's a compact footprint for a fully self-contained starter with AS-i communication, brake output, and two inputs. It mounts directly to a machine frame or sub-panel via the IP65 enclosure — no DIN rail required. The 120 mm width is the same as a standard 8-module terminal block assembly, so it fits neatly in a gland-plate cutout or a small junction box.