What it is and where it fits
The Siemens 3RT2017-2GG22-ZW97 is a SIRIUS power contactor in Size S00 — the smallest frame in the series, sized for motor loads up to about 5.5 kW at 400 V AC-3 (typical). It snaps onto a 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715 and measures 45 mm wide by 70 mm tall by 73 mm deep, so it fits a standard 45 mm slot in a panel. The coil terminals are spring-type, which means no screwdriver needed for the control wiring — strip, push, done. Rated for 10 A at 24 V (resistive load) and carries a mechanical life of 30 million operations typical. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, storage from -55 to +80 °C. The mounting position allows ±180° rotation on a vertical surface and ±22.5° tilt forward/backward, so it's flexible for tight enclosures.
Switching duty and what it means for your load
The contactor is rated for different switching frequencies depending on the duty category. At AC-1 (resistive loads) it can cycle up to 1,000 operations per hour; at AC-3 (squirrel-cage motors, starting and running) it's 750 ops/h; at AC-4 (plugging, inching, reversing) it drops to 250 ops/h. That AC-4 figure is the one to watch if you're doing frequent reversing on a conveyor or hoist — the contactor needs to cool between cycles. The arcing time is 10 to 15 ms, and the make/break time at AC is 38 to 65 ms, which is typical for this frame size. An auxiliary switch is built in (20 to 12 on the main contacts), so you get a feedback signal for the PLC or status lamp without adding a separate block. The auxiliary contacts are rated at 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 48 V, 2 A at 60 V, 1 A at 110 V, 0.9 A at 125 V, 0.3 A at 220 V, and 3 A at 400 V — check your control voltage against that curve.
Wiring and panel integration
The main and coil terminals accept solid or stranded wire from 0.5 to 4 mm² (2 x 0.5 to 4 mm² for dual-wire terminations). The spring-cage design holds the conductor without retightening — good for panels that see vibration. Clearance distances: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm forwards, 10 mm downwards, and 6 mm at the sides. That's enough for standard 45 mm DIN-rail spacing, but if you're packing multiple contactors side-by-side, keep that 6 mm side gap for arc flash clearance.