Switching frequency and duty — where the S12 frame earns its keep
The 3RT1076-6AR36: Switching frequency varies sharply by duty class: AC-1 (resistive) allows up to 500 operations per hour, AC-3 (squirrel-cage motor start/run) allows 420/h, AC-4 (plugging/inching) drops to 130/h. The AC-3e rating matches AC-3 at 420/h. That means this contactor is comfortable cycling a conveyor motor several times a minute but not designed for high-speed jogging. Arcing time is 10-15 ms, with pick-up and drop-out delays of 60-100 ms on both AC and DC coils — standard for a frame this size.
Mounting position is flexible: vertical surface with +/-90° rotation or +/-22.5° tilt front/back. Screw fixing through an 11 mm hole, one hole provided. Keep 10 mm clearance upwards, downwards, and at the side; 20 mm forwards. Dimensions are 214 mm high, 160 mm wide, 225 mm deep — that depth matters when you're laying out a deep panel or a cabinet with limited rear clearance.
