The Siemens 3RK1323-6BS71-1AA3 is a reversing starter with solid-state switching contacts, designed for motor control in AS-i networked environments. The unit is IP65 rated, so it's suited for washdown or dusty environments on the plant floor — no separate enclosure needed for most food-and-bev or packaging lines. It draws supply via AS-i shaped cables with a cutting/clamping method, and the same cable carries communication. That keeps the wiring simple: one flat cable for power and data. Two digital inputs are brought out to M12 sockets, parameterizable for your application. The solid-state switching means no contact wear, but also no mechanical isolation — keep that in mind for safety circuits that require galvanic separation. Full motor protection is built in, covering overload and short circuit.
The housing measures 250 mm high, 130 mm wide, and 107 mm deep. That's a compact footprint for a reversing starter with integrated AS-i interface and M12 I/O. Mounts via the AS-i shaped cable system — no DIN rail required, though the form factor is panel-mountable through the provided socket according to ISO23570.
Supply and communication
Supply voltage is 24 V DC nominal, with a permissible range of 20.4 to 28.8 V DC. Maximum permissible is 31.6 V DC, minimum 26.5 V DC — note that lower bound: if your 24 V bus droops under load, this starter stays up until about 20.4 V. The AS-i bus carries both power and communication; no separate fieldbus wiring needed. The front addressing socket allows device configuration without opening the housing. Brake control is supported for 400 V AC brakes, but not for 180 V DC versions. Operating frequency is rated at a minimum of 1 cycle per hour — that's a thermal limit for the solid-state output stage, not a switching-speed cap.