What this part is and where it lands
The Siemens 3RT2038-1AB00 is a SIRIUS power contactor in the Size S2 frame, designed for switching motor loads and resistive loads in industrial control panels. It carries a 65 A rating at 480 V, which is the headline figure for motor switching under AC-3 duty — meaning it handles full-load current of a 65 A-rated motor at that voltage, not just resistive heating loads. Mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, with mounting position flexibility: +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and +/-22.5° tilt forward/backward. That gives panel builders room to fit it into tight enclosures without derating for orientation.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The 480 V, 65 A rating is the AC-3 motor switching current — the spec that determines whether this contactor can start and stop a motor under load. For resistive loads (AC-1), the maximum switching rate is 700 cycles per hour; for AC-3 motor duty it's 500 cycles per hour, and for the harsher AC-4 inching/plugging duty it drops to 150 cycles per hour. These rates define thermal endurance in repetitive applications like conveyor cycling or crane hoist control. Coil draws 0.37 A at 50 Hz on a 24 V 50 Hz rated coil. The auxiliary switch is included with screw-type terminals on the magnet coil. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, storage from -55 to +80 °C — fine for most indoor panel environments but check if your enclosure sees sustained ambient above 60 °C. Dimensions: 114 mm high, 55 mm wide, 130 mm deep. The 55 mm width is the key panel-space figure — it occupies three 18 mm module positions on a DIN rail. Clearance requirements: 10 mm upwards, forwards, and downwards; 6 mm at the sides. Arcing time is 10–20 ms, operate time 10–18 ms at AC.