What it is and what it does
The Siemens SIRIUS 3RT1456-6XF46-0LA2 is a size S6 contactor with a 110 VDC coil, designed for switching motor loads in industrial control panels. Its main contact ratings — 96 A at 480 V and 99 A at 600 V — mean it can handle high-current three-phase motors up to roughly 55 kW at 480 V, typical for pumps, compressors, and conveyors in heavy-duty applications. The contactor includes an integrated auxiliary switch, saving a separate aux block on the DIN rail. The screw-fixing method and flexible mounting position — vertical surface with ±90° rotation and ±22.5° tilt — give panel builders options for tight enclosures.
Coil and switching performance
The 110 VDC coil has a pick-up threshold of 0.7 times rated value (77 V) and an arcing time of 10–15 ms, with a DC dropout delay of 80–90 ms. That relatively long dropout is useful for ride-through on brief voltage sags but means the contactor will not drop out instantly on a control-power glitch — something to account for in safety-circuit timing. Switching frequency is rated at 600 operations per hour for AC-1 resistive loads and 400 ops/h for DC-1 loads, so it is not a high-speed chopper but is fine for typical motor start/stop cycles.
Mounting and wiring
The contactor measures 172 mm high, 120 mm wide, and 170 mm deep — a substantial footprint that needs generous enclosure space and clearance. Minimum clearances: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm downwards, 10 mm to the side, and 20 mm forwards for arc flash and heat dissipation. Terminals accept solid or stranded wire: 2x (0.5–1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75–2.5 mm²), or max 2x (0.75–4 mm²). The screw-fixing method uses a single 9 mm hole for mounting.
Environmental tolerance
Operating temperature range is -40 to +70 °C, and storage range is -55 to +80 °C, so it can sit in an unheated warehouse or a hot cabinet near a motor without derating.