What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3RT1016-2BA41 is a SIRIUS power contactor in the compact S00 frame size, designed for switching motor loads and resistive loads in industrial control panels. It mounts via screw or snap-on onto a 35 mm DIN rail per EN 50022, making it a direct fit for standard panel layouts. The spring-loaded terminals on the main circuit accept 2x (0.25 to 2.5 mm²) solid or stranded wire, so no screw torque check is needed on the power connections — just strip to 8 mm and push in. For motor duty, the AC-3 rating at 400 V delivers 4 kW, and at 500 V it handles 4.5 kW, climbing to 5.5 kW at 690 V. That means this contactor is sized for a 4.5 kW, 500 V three-phase motor on a conveyor or pump — the 690 V rating gives headroom for 480 V or 575 V line supplies common in North American panels. The AC-4 rating at 400 V is 8.5 A, covering reversing or inching duty where the contactor breaks full motor current. Auxiliary contact switching capacity spans from 10 A at 24 V down to 0.3 A at 220 V DC, which covers PLC input signals and relay coil control without an interposing relay in most cases. Coil consumption is 3.3 W for both closing and holding, so the DC supply needs only that continuous draw — no inrush spike to budget for on a 24 VDC power supply.
Panel fit and integration
At 45 mm wide, 60 mm tall, and 73 mm deep, the S00 frame tucks into tight DIN-rail rows. Side-by-side mounting is allowed with 6 mm spacing to adjacent devices, so you can gang several contactors on a rail without derating — the 6 mm gap is for airflow and arc clearance, not a forced air gap. The IP20 finger-safe enclosure on the front and terminals means it's safe for open-panel installation behind a locked door; no additional shrouding is required for touch protection. The operating temperature range of -25 to +60 °C covers most indoor panel environments, including unheated warehouses. Pollution degree 3 means it's rated for conductive dust and humidity typical of factory floors — no conformal coating needed for standard industrial atmospheres. For installations above 2,000 m altitude, derating applies; below that, the ratings hold as stated.
Protection and coordination
Type 2 coordination (no damage to the contactor on a short-circuit) is achieved with a 20 A gL/gG fuse. Type 1 coordination (contactor may need replacement after fault) allows up to a 35 A gL/gG fuse. This matters for the panel designer: if you need to maintain the contactor through a fault, size the branch fuse at 20 A; if you accept a swap-out after a fault, you can go to 35 A for higher fault-clearing capacity. The auxiliary contact block is a single instantaneous N.O. or N.C. contact, configurable on the front. For multi-signal feedback or PLC interlocks, you'll need to add a side-mount auxiliary block — the base unit carries one contact only.