S3 frame contactor — panel fit and wiring
The 3RT2046-1CB04-3MA0 is a SIRIUS S3 frame power contactor, 70 mm wide and 195 mm deep — that depth is the dimension behind the panel face, so budget at least 200 mm enclosure depth for the coil terminals and arc chamber clearance. Mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715. The mounting position allows +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and +/-22.5° tilt forward/backward, which gives flexibility in crowded panels where the rail orientation isn't ideal. Power wiring accepts stranded conductors from 6 to 70 mm² — that covers most motor branch circuits up to 96 A. The auxiliary switch is built in, so you don't need a separate add-on for feedback to the PLC.
AC-3 motor switching — 96 A at 480 V
Rated 96 A at 480 V in AC-3 duty — that's the motor switching current for squirrel-cage motors during starting and running. At 230 V it's rated 20 hp, which gives a quick horsepower cross-check for North American panel schedules. Maximum operating rate in AC-3 is 850 switching cycles per hour; AC-4 (plugging/reversing) drops to 250 cycles/hour. The mechanical life is 10 million operations typical, so the contactor outlasts most motor rewinds in cyclic duty. Coil connections use screw-type terminals — no push-in or spring-cage on the magnet coil. The control voltage variant is baked into the order code suffix; this unit is configured for the voltage specified in the full 3RT2046-1CB04-3MA0 designation.
Thermal and clearance envelope
Operating ambient range is -25 to +60 °C — the 60 °C ceiling means the contactor can sit in a non-ventilated enclosure near the top of a panel without derating, as long as the internal temperature stays under that limit. Storage range is -55 to +80 °C. Minimum clearances: 10 mm upwards, 10 mm downwards, 20 mm forwards, 10 mm to the side. The 20 mm forward clearance is the tightest — that's the arc chamber direction, so don't crowd the front face against a door or busbar. Arcing time is 10-20 ms at AC, and the make/close time is 10-21 ms at AC — both typical for a contactor this size. The switching frequency limits (900/h AC-1, 850/h AC-3, 250/h AC-4) govern the duty cycle for conveyor indexing or compressor cycling applications.