What this part is and what it fits
The Siemens SIRIUS 3RT1015-2AP01-ZW98 is a size S00 power contactor rated for 24 VDC coil operation at 10 A. It uses spring-loaded terminals on the main current circuit and mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per EN 50022. The S00 frame means it's the smallest contactor body in the SIRIUS family — 45 mm wide, 60 mm tall, 73 mm deep — sized for control cabinets where panel density matters. The coil holds at 24 VDC nominal with a rated operating current of 10 A at that voltage. For higher-voltage auxiliary circuits, the contactor is rated 2 A at 60 V, 1 A at 110 V, and 0.3 A at 220 V — so it can switch pilot devices or small relays in mixed-voltage panels without a separate interface relay.
Ratings that matter for motor and resistive loads
For motor duty, the 3RT1015-2AP01-ZW98 is rated 3 kW at 400 V AC-2 (slip-ring motor starting) and 6.5 A at 400 V AC-4 (plugging/reversing duty). The AC-2 figure tells you it handles moderate inrush from wound-rotor motors; the AC-4 figure is the one to watch for frequent jogging or reversing conveyors — 6.5 A at 400 V is the breaking current under those conditions, not the continuous rating. For resistive or lightly inductive loads, the AC-12 maximum operating current is 10 A — the same as the 24 VDC coil rating, so the contactor can handle full-rated current through the main poles in heater or transformer primary circuits. The operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, and pollution degree 3 means it's rated for industrial environments with conductive dust or humidity, not just clean control rooms.
Coordination and fuse selection
For Type 2 coordination (no damage to the contactor under short circuit), the required upstream fuse is gL/gG 20 A. For Type 1 coordination (contactor may need replacement after fault), the fuse can be 35 A gL/gG. This is the spec the panel designer needs for the short-circuit rating declaration — don't oversize the fuse beyond Type 2 unless you're willing to replace the contactor after a fault. The spring-loaded terminals accept 2x (0.25 to 2.5 mm²) solid or stranded conductors, or 2x (24 to 14 AWG). Side-by-side mounting is permitted without derating, with 6 mm clearance at the side. The front face carries IP20 protection; the terminals themselves are IP20 as well — so no finger-safe cover needed in a closed panel, but keep it out of washdown zones.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
If you're replacing an existing 3RT1015-2AP01-ZW98 in a panel, the spring-loaded terminals match the same footprint as the screw-terminal variants in the S00 family — no rewiring of the DIN rail or busbar arrangement required. The 73 mm depth is the same across the S00 contactor range, so panel layout stays consistent.