52 A at 480 V — AC-3 Motor Switching on the S2 Frame
The Siemens 3RT2036-3AB00 is a SIRIUS power contactor on the S2 frame, rated 52 A at 480 V in AC-3 duty — that is the current it can switch motor loads up to, making it the headline spec for matching to a motor full-load current. The 24 V 50 Hz coil draws 10 A at rated value; the spring-type terminals on the magnet coil accept 2x (0.5... 2.5 mm²) solid or stranded wire, so the control wiring lands without ring lugs. Mechanical endurance is 10 million operations typical, and the contactor carries an auxiliary switch (1 NC + 1 NO configuration) for status feedback or interlocking.
Duty-Cycle Capacity and Switching Frequency
Maximum switching rates vary by duty class: 1 000 operations/hour in AC-1 (resistive), 800/h in AC-3 (motor start/run), and 250/h in AC-4 (plugging/inching) — the AC-4 ceiling is the limiting factor for reversing or jogging applications. Arcing time spans 10 to 20 ms, and the operate time at AC is 10 to 18 ms — both matter for coordination with upstream short-circuit protection devices. At 230 V the contactor is rated for 10 hp motor load, confirming its fit for fractional-to-mid-range three-phase motors in North American nameplate terms.
Panel Integration and Clearance
Mounting is via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715; the S2 frame footprint is 55 mm wide × 114 mm high × 130 mm deep, so it occupies three standard 18 mm DIN modules of width. Minimum clearances to adjacent components: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm forwards, 10 mm downwards, 6 mm at the side — these keep arc flash and thermal rise within the enclosure design envelope. Mounting position is flexible: +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface, and can be tilted forward/backward by +/-22.5° on a vertical surface — useful for tight cabinet layouts or angled subpanels.
Auxiliary Contact Breaking Capacity Across Voltages
The integrated auxiliary switch (1 NO + 1 NC) has a rated breaking capacity that varies with voltage: 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 48/60 V, 1 A at 110 V, 0.9 A at 125 V, 0.3 A at 220 V, 3 A at 400 V, 0.6 A at 440 V, and 2 A at 500 V — these figures govern the pilot duty rating for PLC inputs or relay coils.