What this contactor is and where it fits
The Siemens 3RT2516-1AP00 is a SIRIUS contactor in Size S00 — the smallest frame in the SIRIUS family, sized for light motor and resistive loads where panel space is tight. It fastens via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per EN 50022, so it drops into any standard industrial control panel without adapter plates.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
Rated switching current at 24 V is 10 A — that's the headline figure for a 24 V control circuit or small motor load. At 230 V AC it also switches 10 A, so it handles common single-phase loads up to that voltage. The contactor's operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C, which covers most indoor panel environments without derating. The screw-type magnet coil terminals accept solid or stranded wire: 2x (0.5...1.5 mm²), 2x (0.75...2.5 mm²), or 2x 4 mm². That's enough cross-section for control wiring up to 4 mm², typical for a 24 VDC coil feed in a mixed-voltage panel.
Mounting and spacing
Mounting position is flexible — the contactor can be rotated ±180° on a vertical surface and tilted forward/backward ±22.5°. Side-by-side mounting is allowed with 6 mm clearance to adjacent devices, so you can gang multiple contactors on the same DIN rail without wasting space.