What it is and where it fits
The Siemens 3RT2017-2AP04 is a SIRIUS power contactor in Size S00, the smallest frame in the SIRIUS family, intended for switching motor loads and resistive loads in control panels. It mounts on 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, either screwed or snap-on, and accepts solid or stranded wire from 0.5 to 4 mm² at the spring-type terminals — no screwdriver needed for the coil connection, which saves time during panel build.
Key ratings and what they mean for the buyer
The contactor is rated 6 A at 24 V and 3 A at 400 V, which tells you the switching capacity for typical control and motor circuits. At AC-1 (resistive load) it handles up to 1000 operations per hour; at AC-3 (motor starting) it's rated 750 ops/h. The arcing time sits between 10 and 15 ms — short enough to limit contact wear on frequent starts. The coil is spring-type, so no tool required for wiring, and the auxiliary switch is not integrated — you add a separate block if needed.
Mounting and environment
Mounting position is flexible: +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface, and can be tilted forward/backward by +/-22.5°. Clearance requirements are 10 mm upwards, 10 mm forwards, 10 mm downwards, and 6 mm at the sides — tight enough for dense panel layouts. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C; storage range is -55 to +80 °C, so it handles the thermal cycling of a typical industrial enclosure without issue.