Integrator's note — SIRIUS S3 contactor, 24 VAC coil
The Siemens 3RT2046-1AC24 is a SIRIUS S3-frame power contactor with a 24 VAC 50/60 Hz magnet coil terminated at screw-type terminals. It mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per EN 60715, occupying a 70 mm wide footprint with a 140 mm height and 195 mm depth — a standard S3 envelope that panels already tooled for the frame accept without rework. The coil draws 6 A at 24 V rated value, dropping to 2 A at 48 V and 0.3 A at 220 V — the inrush is brief but the control transformer must be sized for it.
Duty-cycle limits — what the switching frequencies mean
The contactor is rated for 850 switching cycles per hour in AC-3 and AC-3e duty (the motor-switching standard), 900/h in AC-1 (resistive loads), 350/h in AC-2 (slip-ring motors), and 250/h in AC-4 (plugging/inching). For a conveyor line running a standard induction motor, the AC-3 figure governs — 850 ops/h is roughly one cycle every 4.2 seconds, which covers most cyclic applications without exceeding the thermal limit of the main contacts.
Wiring and mounting — panel-builder checklist
Main circuit wiring accepts solid conductors from 2.5 to 16 mm² and stranded from 6 to 70 mm². Auxiliary contacts take 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²) solid or stranded, or 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²).