Capacitor switching duty — what the ratings deliver
The 3RT2628-1AP65: This is a SIRIUS capacitor contactor, purpose-built for switching power factor correction capacitor banks. These are the currents the contactor can make and break for capacitor loads — the inrush from charging capacitors can be 20-30x rated current, so the contactor's arc-chamber design handles that stress. The arcing time is a tight 10 ms typical, with AC switching time between 4 and 16 ms — fast enough for most capacitor switching cycles.
Switching frequency derating — the voltage-speed tradeoff
Maximum switching frequency drops as voltage rises: 100 operations per hour at 230/240/400 V, 70/h at 480 V, 65/h at 500 V, 45/h at 600 V, and 36/h at 690 V. This is the thermal limit of the contactor — pushing more cycles at higher voltage overheats the arc chamber. For PFC banks with frequent switching, stay under these ceilings. At 40 °C ambient, the maximum cable cross-section is 16 mm² solid; at 60 °C it drops to 25 mm² — the derating curve matters for panel wiring at the top of the enclosure. Stranded takes 2x (1-2.5 mm²) or 2x (2.5-10 mm²). Coil terminals are screw-type, rated for the 220-240 V AC coil at 50/60 Hz.
Mounting flexibility and panel integration
This means it fits in tight enclosures where the DIN rail is oriented oddly — but the contactor's internal arc path is designed for vertical orientation, so tilting beyond 22.5° may affect switching performance at high currents. No auxiliary contact blocks are attachable (0 attachable), so all auxiliary switching must come from external relays or the PLC output. Plan for that in the BOM.