What it is and what it does
The Siemens SIRIUS 3RT1476-6AP36 is a size S12 contactor — the frame size for heavy motor switching and resistive loads up to the S12 rating envelope. The coil is rated 220 to 240 V AC/DC, so it lands on a common control voltage for European and many Asian panels. Screw-type terminals on the magnet coil and main power path; the auxiliary switch is included, which saves a separate add-on block for basic feedback.
What the ratings mean for fit
Mechanical life is 10 million operations typical — that is the contactor body, not the contacts under load. For a conveyor or pump start/stop cycle at, say, once per minute, that is roughly 19 years of continuous service before the mechanism wears. The arcing time of 10 to 15 ms is tight, meaning the contacts clear fast; that reduces pitting on motor inrush. Operate time is 60 to 100 ms on both AC and DC, so the coil pull-in is consistent regardless of supply type — no surprise delay when switching from a DC control bus.
Mounting and panel integration
Mounting is screw fixing through a single 11 mm hole. The contactor can be rotated +/-90° on a vertical surface, or tilted +/-22.5° front-to-back — useful when the panel layout forces an odd angle. Clearance requirements: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm downwards, 20 mm forwards, 10 mm at the sides. That is tighter than many S12 contactors; you can pack it into a shallow enclosure if the ventilation is adequate. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, storage -55 to +80 °C — fine for unheated plant rooms or outdoor cabinets in moderate climates.
Wiring and termination
Main power path accepts stranded conductors from 70 to 240 mm² — that is the range for the load side, sized for the S12 current rating. The coil and auxiliary control wiring uses screw-type terminals accepting solid or stranded: 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²), max 2x (0.75 to 4 mm²). That covers standard control cable sizes; no need for ferrule adapters unless the panel spec demands them.