What This Part Is and Where It Fits
The 3RT1056-6AP38-0PA5: The coil is rated 220-240 V at 50/60 Hz, with screw-type terminals for the magnet coil. The main power circuit accepts stranded conductors from 25 to 120 mm², while the auxiliary circuit handles solid or stranded wire from 0.5 to 4 mm² depending on the termination count. Mounting is by screw fixing, with the contactor sized at 172 mm high, 120 mm wide, and 170 mm deep. The mounting position allows vertical surface mounting with +/-90° rotation and +/-22.5° tilt front-to-back, giving panel builders flexibility in tight enclosures.
Key Ratings and What They Mean for Your Application
The S6 frame size indicates a contactor rated for higher motor currents typical of medium-to-large induction motors in the 30-75 kW range on 400 VAC three-phase, though the exact AC-3 rating is not listed here. The switching frequency varies by duty: up to 800 operations per hour in AC-1 resistive duty, 750 ops/h in AC-3 motor starting, and 130 ops/h in AC-4 plugging/reversing. For high-cycle applications like conveyor indexing or compressor cycling, AC-3 at 750 ops/h is the realistic limit before contact wear accelerates. Operating time is 40-60 ms on both AC and DC coil supplies, with an arcing time of 10-15 ms. The auxiliary switch (built-in) carries 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 48 V or 60 V, and 1 A at 110 V. These are the ratings for the auxiliary contacts feeding PLC inputs or status lamps — stay within these limits to avoid contact welding. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, with storage from -55 to +80 °C. In a non-ventilated panel near a drive or transformer, the upper ambient limit of 60 °C is the binding constraint — derate switching frequency above 40 °C per the thermal curve.
Sourcing and Lifecycle Reality
The closest peer is the 3RT1056-6AP36-0UA0, which shares the S6 frame but differs in coil voltage or auxiliary configuration. The -6AP38-0PA5 drops in without rewiring the coil circuit if the panel was wired for 220-240 VAC.