SIRIUS Size S3 power contactor — 96 A at 480 V
The Siemens 3RT2046-1AB00 is a SIRIUS Size S3 power contactor, rated 96 A at 480 V (AC-3 duty). That 96 A figure at 480 V is the motor-switching current — the rating that determines whether this contactor handles your load without derating. For a 480 V three-phase motor, 96 A corresponds roughly to a 75 kW (100 hp) induction motor, though always verify against the motor nameplate FLA. The contactor carries a 20 hp rating at 230 V as well, covering lower-voltage applications. Mounting is via screw and snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, with the mounting position allowing ±180° rotation on a vertical surface and ±22.5° tilt forward/backward. This flexibility simplifies panel layout when busbar or cable routing forces an unconventional orientation. The contactor includes an auxiliary switch as standard, with the main contact configuration listed as 10-2 (likely 10 NO + 2 NC main contacts, typical for a Size S3 frame). The auxiliary contacts are rated across multiple voltages: 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, and 3 A at 400 V — these are the switching capacities for the auxiliary circuit, not the main power path.
Duty-cycle and switching rates
Switching frequency varies by duty class: 900 operations/hour at AC-1 (resistive loads), 850 at AC-3 (squirrel-cage motors — starting only), 850 at AC-3e (enhanced AC-3), 350 at AC-2 (slip-ring motors), and 250 at AC-4 (plugging/inching). For a conveyor drive running continuous start/stop cycles at AC-3, the 850 ops/h ceiling means roughly one operation every 4.2 seconds — adequate for most material-handling lines but tight for high-speed indexing. The AC-4 rate of 250 ops/h (one every 14.4 seconds) reflects the heavier thermal stress of reversing or inching duty. Electrical life will be lower and depends on the switched current and duty class.
Main circuit terminals accept solid conductors from 2.5 to 16 mm² and stranded conductors from 6 to 70 mm². The coil terminals are screw-type, accepting 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²) solid or 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²) stranded. The arcing time is 10 to 20 ms at 50 Hz, with a solid-state switching time of 10 to 21 ms. These clearances are minimal for a Size S3 frame — the contactor can be packed relatively tightly in a panel, but verify that arc chute venting isn't obstructed.
Dimensions: 152 mm depth, 70 mm width, 140 mm height. The 70 mm width is the standard Size S3 footprint, matching other SIRIUS contactors in this frame size for busbar and panel cutout compatibility.