What it is and where it lands
The Siemens 3RT1017-2CB04-ZW97 is a SIRIUS S00 power contactor — the smallest frame in the SIRIUS family — built for switching motor loads in control panels. It snaps onto a 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 50022 or screws directly to a mounting plate, so it fits both production-line builds and field retrofits. The 45 mm width and 60 mm height keep it tight in a crowded enclosure. The coil is wound for 24 VAC at 50/60 Hz, which is the standard control voltage across European and much of Asian panel design. The built-in varistor surge suppressor clips the inductive kick when the coil drops out — saves adding an external snubber on the PLC output card.
What the ratings mean for fit
The headline motor ratings are 5.5 kW at 400 V AC-2 duty and 5.5 kW at 690 V — that's the three-phase induction motor load it handles in normal starting and running. For AC-4 reversing or plugging duty, the rated current drops to 8.5 A at 400 V, so if you're jogging or stopping a motor under load, that's the number to size against, not the AC-2 figure. For resistive or general-purpose loads (AC-12), the contactor carries 10 A maximum. The auxiliary contact block is rated for 10 A at 24 V, 6 A at 230 V, and 0.3 A at 220 V — watch the DC switching limits if you're breaking inductive DC loads on the aux contacts; the 24 VDC rating is 10 A, but at 60 VDC it's 2 A and at 110 VDC it's 1 A. Spring-loaded terminals on the main circuit accept 2x (0.25 to 2.5 mm²) solid or stranded, or 2x (24 to 14 AWG). That's a typical control-panel wire range — no need for ferrules on solid wire, but stranded should be ferruled for reliable clamping. The terminals are IP20 finger-safe, so the panel can stay live during troubleshooting with the door open.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
For type 2 coordination (no-weld on fault), the required upstream fuse is gL/gG 20 A. That's a standard NH or D-type fuse — any major fuse line (Siba, Bussmann, ETI) will work. The contactor itself is rated for pollution degree 3, so it's fine in industrial environments with conductive dust or condensation.
Mounting and integration notes
Side-by-side mounting is allowed with zero spacing — the 45 mm width per pole is the installed width. Depth is 114 mm, which includes the coil terminals and the built-in varistor module; leave clearance for the spring-loaded terminal levers to open fully during wiring. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, so it's fine in unheated enclosures down to -25, but watch the upper end near drives or transformers that push the internal ambient above 60. The contactor's size S00 frame means the mechanical life is rated at 30 million operations typical — that's the no-load mechanical endurance. Electrical life depends on the load current and switching frequency; for a pump or fan starting once per minute, you'll get millions of cycles before contact wear becomes an issue.