Integrator note — SIRIUS 3RT2046-1AR00 power contactor
The Siemens 3RT2046-1AR00 is a SIRIUS-brand power contactor in size S3, built for switching motor loads in control panels. Its AC-3 rating of 850 operating cycles per hour means it handles frequent starts and stops on 3-phase induction motors without overheating the arc chamber — a common bottleneck on lower-rated contactors. The 96 A rating at 480 V (AC-3) gives it headroom for motors in the 50–75 hp range, depending on duty cycle. Screw-type terminals on the magnet coil and main contacts accept solid conductors from 2.5 to 16 mm² and stranded from 6 to 70 mm², so it lands on standard panel wiring without adapters. An auxiliary switch is built in, saving a separate add-on block for status feedback to the PLC.
Mounting and clearance — DIN rail fit
Mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm standard mounting rail per DIN EN 60715. The housing is 70 mm wide, 140 mm high, 152 mm deep. Clearance requirements: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm downwards, 20 mm forwards, 10 mm at the side. The mounting position allows +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and can be tilted forward/backward by +/-22.5° on a vertical surface — useful when the panel layout forces a non-standard orientation. Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C; storage range extends from -55 to +80 °C, which governs handling and warehousing, not running.
Duty-cycle ratings — what the numbers mean for your load
The contactor is rated for four duty classes. AC-1 (resistive loads) allows 900 ops/h; AC-2 (slip-ring motors) 350 ops/h; AC-3 (squirrel-cage motors) 850 ops/h; AC-4 (plugging/inching) 250 ops/h. The AC-3e rating (enhanced AC-3) also sits at 850 ops/h. For motor applications, the AC-3 figure is the one that governs real-world life — the 10 million mechanical operations typical life is only reached if the electrical load stays within the AC-3 curve. The arcing time is 10 to 21 ms at AC, which is typical for a contactor this size and means the arc extinguishes fast enough to avoid contact welding under normal fault clearing.