What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3RT1016-1AF05-ZW96 is a SIRIUS power contactor in the compact S00 frame size, designed for switching motor loads in control panels. It carries a 4.5 kW rating at 500 V and a 5.5 kW rating at 690 V, with an AC-4 operating current of 8.5 A at 400 V for demanding reversing or inching duty. The 3-pole main contact block uses screw-type terminals, and the auxiliary contact block is rated for 10 A at 24 V.
Mounting and integration
Mounts via screw or snap-on onto a 35 mm DIN rail per EN 50022. The 45 mm width and 57.5 mm height fit standard panel layouts; the 114 mm depth leaves clearance for wiring behind the rail. Side-by-side mounting is permitted with a 6 mm gap to adjacent devices for thermal dissipation. The front face carries an IP20 rating, suitable for enclosed panels where no tool access is needed.
Ratings and what they mean for your BOM
The AC-4 rating of 8.5 A at 400 V is the figure that governs plugging or inching applications — the contactor's ability to break motor current under stalled-rotor conditions. For standard AC-3 motor starting, the 4.5 kW at 500 V and 5.5 kW at 690 V are the headline numbers. The auxiliary contacts handle 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 60 V, 1 A at 110 V, and 0.3 A at 220 V — check your control voltage against these curves. Mechanical endurance is rated at 30 million operations, so this is a long-life component for high-cycle lines.
Coordination and protection
For Type 2 coordination (no damage to the contactor on a short circuit), Siemens specifies a gL/gG fuse rated at 20 A. For Type 1 coordination (contactor may need replacement after a fault), the fuse rating goes up to 35 A. The operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, with a maximum operating altitude of 2 000 m. Pollution degree 3 means it's suited for industrial environments with conductive pollution.