What the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens 3RT2016-1CH07 is a SIRIUS power contactor in size S00, designed for switching motor loads and resistive circuits in industrial control panels. It mounts via screw or snap-on onto a 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, with a width of 45 mm and a depth of 117 mm, so it fits the standard S00 footprint without crowding adjacent devices. The contactor carries no built-in auxiliary switch, so you'll need a separate auxiliary contact block if your circuit requires feedback or interlocking. The AC-3 rating of 750 operations per hour tells you the maximum switching frequency under motor starting conditions — enough for a conveyor or pump cycling several times a minute, but not for high-speed jogging. For heavy inrush loads (AC-4), the limit drops to 250 ops/h, which reflects the increased contact wear from plugging or reversing. The mechanical life is rated at 10,000,000 operations typical, so the contactor outlasts most applications before the coil or contacts need attention. Wire termination uses screw-type terminals on both main and coil circuits. The main contacts accept solid or stranded conductors from 0.5 to 4 mm², and the coil terminals are also screw-type, so you can land standard control wiring without special tools. Clearance requirements: 10 mm upwards, forwards, and downwards, and 6 mm at the sides — plan your enclosure layout accordingly to avoid derating or arcing to adjacent metal.
Switching capacity and coil draw
The contactor's switching ratings vary by voltage and load type. At 24 V it handles 6 A; at 400 V it handles 3 A. For motor loads at 230 V, it is rated for 1 hp. The coil holding power is 0.25 W at both 50 Hz and 60 Hz, so the control transformer sees a light continuous draw — useful when multiple contactors are held in on a shared 24 VDC or AC supply. Arcing time is 4 to 15 ms at AC, with a typical arcing time of 10 to 15 ms. This is within the normal range for a contactor of this size; the snubber or RC network on the load side is not mandatory for most resistive or motor loads, but inductive loads with fast interruption may benefit from a suppressor across the coil.
Environmental and mounting flexibility
Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, storage range -55 to +80 °C, so the contactor handles most indoor industrial environments without forced cooling. The mounting position is flexible: +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface, and can be tilted forward/backward by +/-22.5° on a vertical surface. This means you can orient the contactor to fit tight enclosures or odd panel layouts, as long as the DIN rail is properly supported.