SIRIUS Size S2 power contactor — what the ratings mean for the panel
The Siemens 3RT1036-3AV60 is a SIRIUS power contactor in the Size S2 frame, built for switching motor loads in industrial control panels. It mounts via screw and snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 50022, so it drops into a standard panel layout without adapters. The headline motor ratings tell you where this contactor fits: AC-2 duty at 400 V delivers 22 kW for slip-ring or wound-rotor motors, while the AC-4 rating of 41 A at 400 V covers plugging and inching duty cycles where the contactor makes and breaks stalled rotor current. That AC-4 figure is the one that governs for reversing or jogging applications — the contactor sees the full locked-rotor current each time. At 500 V the contactor is rated for 30 kW, and at 690 V it handles 11.4 kW — useful for 690 V mining or industrial networks where step-down transformers aren't in the path. The switching frequency limits are also worth noting: 800 operations per hour at AC-3, but only 300 per hour at AC-4, which lines up with the heavier arc duty of plugging stops. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, storage from -55 to +80 °C, and the pollution degree is rated 3 — meaning the contactor is designed for conductive pollution or dry non-conductive pollution that becomes conductive through condensation, which is the reality in unsealed enclosures on a crusher floor or in a washdown area. The front of the contactor carries IP20 protection (finger-safe), while the terminals are IP00 — so the wiring zone needs to be inside a panel or enclosure. Side-by-side mounting is permitted with no derating gap, which saves rail space when stacking multiple contactors for a multi-motor group.
Mechanical and electrical endurance — the so-what for maintenance planning
Mechanical life is listed at 10 million operations typical, which means the contactor will outlast most of the equipment it switches before the coil or armature needs attention. Arcing time is 10 to 15 ms, and the operate time at AC is 7 to 20 ms — both are fast enough for standard motor starting and stopping sequences. The coil operates at 60 Hz with a voltage tolerance of 0.8 to 1.1 times rated value, so it holds in on a weak utility feed or a long cable run where voltage sag is a concern.
Termination and wiring — what fits the screw terminals
Main current circuit terminals are screw-type, accepting solid conductors 2x (0.25 to 2.5 mm²) and stranded conductors 2x (0.75 to 25 mm²) — the stranded range covers the full cross-section for a 41 A motor circuit. The terminal rating is IP00, so the wiring zone is not finger-safe; panel builders should cover or shield the terminals per local code. At 40 °C the minimum permissible conductor cross-section is 16 mm², which aligns with the AC-4 current draw — undersized wiring here would heat up under repeated plugging cycles.
Lifecycle and compliance — current production with RoHS documentation
Substance prohibition date is 05/01/2012, which aligns with the EU RoHS recast (RoHS 2) effective date — the contactor is compliant with the restricted substances list. Side-by-side mounting is permitted, and the unit carries the SIRIUS brand with standard Siemens documentation for CE, UL, and CSA compliance (nameplate markings, not a separate cert number in this listing).