What the ratings mean for fit
The Siemens 3RT1046-1AN60 is a Size S3 SIRIUS power contactor rated for 55 kW at 500 V and 25.4 kW at 690 V in AC-3 duty (squirrel-cage motor switching). That 55 kW figure at 500 V tells you the motor load it can handle under typical three-phase induction motor starting — the AC-3 rating governs the make/break of locked-rotor current, not continuous resistive load. At 690 V the same contactor derates to 25.4 kW, which is the winding stress limit at elevated voltage. Mechanical life is rated at 10 million operations typical. Electrical life depends on duty: AC-3 maximum 850 operations per hour, AC-4 (inching/plugging) 250 per hour. For a conveyor line running one start per minute, that AC-3 rate is comfortable; for a jogging application the AC-4 limit governs and you'd need to check the actual switching frequency against 250 ops/h. The contactor mounts via screw and snap-on onto 35 mm or 75 mm standard mounting rail. Side-by-side mounting is permitted, which matters when you're packing multiple contactors in a motor control center — no derating required for adjacent units at rated current, though the IP20 front means the live terminals are finger-safe only from the front; the terminal area itself is IP00, so gland-plate clearance and separation from grounded metal are on you.
Termination and wiring
Main circuit terminals are screw-type. Solid wire capacity: 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²), max 2x (0.75 to 4 mm²). Stranded: 2x (10 to 50 mm²). The solid/stranded range for auxiliary circuits is 2x (2.5 to 16 mm²). That 50 mm² stranded upper limit on the main terminals is generous — it takes a 1 AWG equivalent, so no adapter lug needed for heavy motor feeds up to that cross-section. Pollution degree 3 means the contactor is rated for industrial environments where conductive pollution occurs or dry non-conductive pollution becomes conductive due to condensation. That's the standard for most MCC and panel installations — no special conformal coating required for normal factory-floor humidity.