Motor-rated switching for panel builds
The Siemens 3RT2028-2BB40-Z W96 is a SIRIUS 3RT power contactor rated AC-3e/AC-3 at 38 A, good for 18.5 kW motor loads on a 400 V three-phase line. That AC-3e rating means it handles the inrush of a standard squirrel-cage induction motor during starting and breaking, not just resistive heating — the duty class that matters for conveyor, pump, and fan circuits. The 24 V DC coil keeps it on the same control voltage as most PLC digital outputs, so you can drive it directly without an interposing relay. The auxiliary contact block is built in: 1 NO + 1 NC, enough for a feedback signal to the controller and a seal-in circuit. Spring-loaded terminals (cage clamp style) accept solid or ferruled stranded wire without retorquing — a time-saver on the panel wireman's bench and more vibration-resistant than screw clamps in a machine-mounted enclosure.