What this contactor is and what it handles
The Siemens SIRIUS 3RT1036-1BB40-ZW96 is a size S2 power contactor built for switching motor loads in control panels. It carries a 24 VDC coil and is rated for 30 kW at 500 V in AC-3 duty — the standard category for squirrel-cage motors during starting and running — so it handles a 30 kW motor at that voltage without derating. The screw-type terminals on the main circuit accept stranded cable up to 25 mm², which covers the feed for that power level without needing an adapter. The mechanical life is rated at 10,000,000 operations typical, and the operating temperature range of -25 to +60 °C means it can sit in a non-conditioned panel near a crusher or conveyor drive without issues. Pollution degree 3 rating confirms it's designed for industrial environments with conductive pollution — the kind you get in a mill or mine where dust and moisture are present.
Mounting and integration into the panel
Mounts via screw and snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 50022. The 55 mm width means it takes up one standard module slot, and side-by-side mounting is allowed — no required air gap between contactors, which saves rail space in a dense panel. The IP20 front enclosure protects against finger contact; the terminals themselves are IP00, so the panel door or a terminal cover handles the rest. Wire termination is straightforward: the screw terminals accept solid conductors 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²) for control wiring, and stranded main power cable up to 2x (0.75 to 25 mm²). The 130 mm depth fits standard 200 mm deep enclosures with room for wiring ducts.
Switching ratings and what they mean for the line
AC-3 at 400 V is rated at 22 kW — that's the motor-switching rating for a typical 400 V three-phase motor. AC-4 at 400 V is 41 A, which covers plugging and inching duty where the contactor makes and breaks stalled rotor current. The arcing time is 10 to 15 ms, and DC arcing time 20 to 25 ms — these matter for coordinating with upstream protection and for predicting contact wear in high-cycle applications. Switching frequency limits: 1,000 operations per hour at AC-1 (resistive loads), 800/h at AC-3, 400/h at AC-2, and 300/h at AC-4. If your application cycles a motor on and off every few seconds under full load, the AC-3 limit of 800/h means a cycle every 4.5 seconds is the ceiling — stay under that to avoid overheating the coil and contacts.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
RoHS compliance date is listed as May 1, 2012, which covers the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive. The substance prohibition date aligns with the standard RoHS2 effective date, so the part is compliant for shipments into regulated markets.