What this contactor is and what it does
The Siemens 3RT1016-1BD42 is a SIRIUS power contactor in frame size S00, built for switching motor loads in control panels. It carries a 42 VDC coil and uses screw-type terminals for the main circuit. Rated for AC-3 duty, it handles 4.5 kW at 500 V and 5.5 kW at 690 V — the figures that govern real motor switching on a pump, conveyor, or fan.
Ratings that decide the fit
The 42 VDC coil pulls 3.3 W during both closing and holding — a single figure that simplifies the DC supply sizing. Pick-up is guaranteed at 85 % of rated voltage (0.85 x 42 V = 35.7 V), and the dropout margin sits at 1.1 times rated (46.2 V), which means the contactor stays latched through a moderate dip on the control bus. For the main contacts, the AC-3 motor-switching ratings are the ones that matter: 4 kW at 400 V, 4.5 kW at 500 V, and 5.5 kW at 690 V. The AC-4 rating at 400 V is 8.5 A — that covers plugging and inching duty where the contactor makes and breaks under full load. For resistive or general-purpose loads (AC-1 / AC-12), the maximum operating current is 10 A. Short-circuit coordination is specified: type 1 requires a 35 A gL/gG fuse; type 2 requires a 20 A gL/gG fuse. That matters for selectivity studies and SCCR compliance in the panel.
Mounting and integration into the panel
Mounts via screw or snap-on onto a 35 mm DIN rail per EN 50022. Dimensions are 45 mm wide, 57.5 mm high, 72 mm deep — the S00 footprint that fits standard 45 mm-wide contactor slots. Side-by-side mounting is allowed with zero gap, so no derating for packing density in a multi-contactor group. The screw terminals accept solid or stranded copper: 2x (0.5...1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75...2.5 mm²), or max 2x (0.75...4 mm²). AWG equivalents are 2x (20...16), 2x (18...14), and 1x 12. The front face carries IP20; the terminals themselves are IP20 — safe for finger-probe access inside a closed panel. Rated for pollution degree 3 (conductive pollution or dry non-conductive pollution that becomes conductive due to condensation), which is the standard for industrial control panels. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C; maximum installation altitude is 2 000 m without derating.