The Siemens 3RT1024-3AL20 is a SIRIUS S0 power contactor built for switching three-phase motors and resistive loads in control panels. Rated for AC-3 duty at 5.5 kW on 400 V (50/60 Hz), it also handles 7.5 kW at 500 V and 690 V — so it covers the common European 400 V three-phase motor range and steps up for 500/690 V applications. That's the difference between a contactor that lives a long life on a pump and one that gets swapped every six months on a reversing conveyor.
Ingress and environment — what the IP ratings mean on the panel
Finger-safe IP20 on the front face, but the terminal area is rated IP00 — bare live parts when the cover is off. That's typical for a panel-mounted contactor: the enclosure provides the overall IP rating, not the component.
