160 A minimum current rating and trip class selection
The 3RW5246-2AC15 is rated for a minimum motor current of 160 A and a rated voltage range of 200 to 600 V. The trip class is configurable as CLASS 10A (default), 10E, or 20E per IEC 60947-4-2 — this sets the overload protection curve for the connected motor; CLASS 10A is typical for standard-start pumps and fans, while 20E allows longer acceleration times for high-inertia loads. In a hot rolling mill where panel ambient near the soft starter can hit 50 °C, the derating must be factored into the motor current setting — the 160 A minimum is the base at 40 °C; above that, the allowable continuous current drops.
Mounting, dimensions, and shock rating
Dimensions are 203 mm depth, 210 mm width, 393 mm height. Fastening is by screw fixing. The mounting position allows a vertical mounting surface with +/-90° rotation and +/-22.5° tilt front-to-back — this gives flexibility in tight cabinets but the derating note applies if the unit is mounted horizontally or with restricted airflow. Shock resistance is 15 g / 11 ms, with potential contact lifting above 12 g / 11 ms. In a mill environment with crane impacts or roll-change vibrations, the mounting bracket must be rigid enough to keep the unit below that threshold — soft rubber grommets under the screw feet can actually amplify shock.
Fieldbus connectivity and analog output
The soft starter supports PROFIBUS, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET — all standard on the unit. This means it drops into most common industrial networks without an external gateway. PROFINET also supports PROFIenergy for energy management when paired with the PROFINET communication module. An analog output is provided, configurable as 4-20 mA (default) or 0-10 V (parameterizable with High Feature HMI). This can be mapped to motor current or torque for remote monitoring — useful for trending load changes on a conveyor or pump over time.