The 3RT2023-1BB44-3MA0: That 6 mm side gap is the binding constraint in a dense panel — adjacent contactors or other devices need that clearance for arc flash and heat dissipation, not just wire bending space.
Coil drive and switching duty limits
The coil is rated 24 VDC and draws 6 A at the rated value — that's the inrush to pull the armature in. Once sealed, the holding current drops to the standard SIRIUS holding power level, but the 6 A peak matters for sizing the DC supply and the PLC output driving it. Switching frequency limits are duty-class specific: 1 000 operations per hour in AC-1, AC-2, AC-3, and AC-3e, but only 300 per hour in AC-4. AC-4 is plugging/inching duty — the higher electrical wear from making and breaking under load at standstill cuts the allowable rate by more than three times. Arcing time is 10 to 10 ms — that's a narrow band, meaning the arc extinguishes consistently regardless of the point on the wave where the contacts part. The DC switching times (15 to 18 ms) include both the coil dropout delay and the arc extinction; budget this into the safety circuit response time if the contactor is in a stop path.
Mounting position and environmental range
That means it fits in a panel where the DIN rail is oriented at an angle — common in machinery with sloped control cabinets — without derating. The -25 °C low end is the limit for unheated warehouses in cold climates; below that the coil insulation and lubricants stiffen and the contactor may not pick reliably.
Sourced through independent distribution channels against an RFQ. The part is genuine Siemens SIRIUS, same part, different passport — the warranty follows the region of original sale.