96 A at 480 V — AC-3 motor switching
The Siemens 3RT2046-1AV60 is a SIRIUS Size S3 power contactor rated 96 A at 480 V in AC-3 duty — that's the current it can switch motor loads under full load, not just carry. For a 230 V motor circuit, the same contactor handles 20 hp. It mounts on 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, with screw and snap-on fastening. The mounting position allows +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and +/-22.5° tilt forward/backward, giving panel builders flexibility in tight enclosures.
Duty-cycle limits and service life
Switching frequency varies by duty class: 900 operations/hour in AC-1 (resistive loads), 850/h in AC-3 and AC-3e (standard motor starts), 350/h in AC-2 (slip-ring motors), and 250/h in AC-4 (plugging/inching). These are maximums — sustained operation at these rates requires the contactor to be within its thermal limits. Mechanical service life is 10 million operations typical. The main contacts are rated for 10 to 2 million electrical operations depending on switching current and duty.
Wiring and clearance specs
Main circuit terminals accept solid conductors 2.5 to 16 mm² or stranded 6 to 70 mm². The coil connection uses screw-type terminals; auxiliary wiring accepts 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²) solid or stranded, or 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²). Minimum clearance distances: 10 mm upwards, 20 mm forwards, 10 mm downwards, 10 mm to the side. These are the air gaps needed around the contactor for arc flash and heat dissipation — don't crowd it against the gland plate or adjacent devices. Dimensions: 70 mm wide, 140 mm high, 152 mm deep. Operating temperature range -25 to +60 °C; storage range -55 to +80 °C.
Auxiliary contact ratings
The contactor includes an auxiliary switch. Its rated current at various voltages: 10 A at 24 V, 2 A at 48 V and 60 V, 1 A at 110 V, 0.9 A at 125 V, 0.3 A at 220 V, 3 A at 400 V, and 0.8 A at 440 V. These are the make/break capacities for the auxiliary contacts — match them to your PLC input or relay coil draw.
Sourcing and lifecycle
Lifecycle stage is current production.