What this contactor is and what it does
The Siemens SIRIUS 3RT1016-1BA41 is a size S00 power contactor with a 12 VDC coil, designed for switching motor loads and resistive circuits in industrial control panels. It mounts on a 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 50022, using either screw or snap-on fixing, and occupies a 45 mm wide footprint. The AC-2 rating at 400 V is 4 kW, which covers standard squirrel-cage motor starting and stopping. For more demanding inrush applications like reversing or plugging, the AC-4 rating at 400 V is 8.5 A. The AC-12 maximum operating current is 10 A, suitable for resistive loads and control transformers. Coil pick-up is guaranteed at 85 % of rated voltage (10.2 VDC), and drop-out occurs at 110 % (13.2 VDC). The DC coil consumes 3.3 W during both closing and holding, so no power reduction after pick-up — factor that into your control transformer sizing.
Mounting and integration into a panel
The contactor is 45 mm wide, 57.5 mm tall, and 72 mm deep. Side-by-side mounting is permitted with zero gap, so you can pack multiple units on a DIN rail without derating for heat buildup — the S00 frame is designed for that density. A 6 mm clearance to the side of the enclosure or other components is required only if you need access to the screw terminals. Main circuit terminals are screw-type, accepting 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²), or up to 2x (0.75 to 4 mm²) solid or stranded conductors. For AWG, that's 2x (20 to 16), 2x (18 to 14), or 1x 12. The auxiliary contact terminals accept the same range. Front protection is IP20, so the contactor is intended for installation inside a locked or tool-accessible enclosure. Pollution degree 3 means it tolerates conductive pollution in industrial atmospheres, but it should not be exposed to direct washdown or condensation.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
For short-circuit coordination, Type 1 requires a 35 A gL/gG fuse, and Type 2 requires a 20 A gL/gG fuse. The mechanical endurance is rated at 30 million cycles, which is typical for the SIRIUS S00 family and supports high-duty applications like conveyor or pump cycling.
Auxiliary contact ratings and environmental limits
The built-in instantaneous auxiliary contact (1 N/O) is rated at 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 60 V, 1 A at 110 V, 0.3 A at 220 V, 6 A at 230 V, and 3 A at 400 V — all at the respective rated values. These are the maximum switching currents; derate for inductive loads like relay coils. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C during operation. Maximum operating altitude is 2 000 m without derating. The reference code per DIN EN 81346-2 is Q, which designates switching devices in the plant documentation standard.