What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3RT2346-1NP30 is a SIRIUS contactor, size S3, designed for switching motor loads and resistive loads in industrial control panels. It accepts a coil supply of 175-280 V AC/DC, making it a single-device solution for panels that run mixed AC/DC control voltages without needing a separate coil rectifier. The coil draws 3.5 VA at both 50 Hz and 60 Hz, so the control transformer sizing is the same regardless of line frequency. Inrush current peaks at 65 A, which is typical for this frame size — factor that into your DC supply if you're running a bank of contactors off a single 24 VDC bus.
Mounting and clearances
Mounts via screw and snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715. The mounting position allows +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and can be tilted forward/backward by +/-22.5°, which helps when the panel layout forces an odd angle. Keep 10 mm clearance upwards and downwards, 20 mm forwards, and 10 mm at the sides for arc venting and heat dissipation. Dimensions are 140 mm high, 96 mm wide, and 152 mm deep — the depth is the dimension that often surprises panel builders when the contactor is mounted sideways or near a gland plate.
Termination and wiring
Main contact terminals accept stranded wire from 6 to 70 mm² — that covers everything from a 4 AWG feed to a 1/0 AWG for high-current motor circuits. The coil terminals are screw-type and accept solid or stranded wire: 2x (0.5 to 1.5 mm²) or 2x (0.75 to 2.5 mm²). The auxiliary switch is included, with contact ratings ranging from 10 A at 24 V down to 0.3 A at 220 V — check the specific load type (AC-15, DC-13) against your PLC input card.