IEC Contactor Selection Guide: Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric & Siemens

Why there is no cross-brand part-number chart for contactors

Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric, and Siemens each design their IEC contactor lines around their own proprietary catalog-numbering scheme — there is no published industry standard that maps a Bulletin 100-C number to a TeSys or SIRIUS 3RT number the way ISO 15 maps one brand's deep-groove ball bearing to another's. Any chart claiming an exact model-for-model equivalence between these brands is not based on a real standard. What genuinely is standardized is the rating system the contactor is built to.

What is standardized: the AC-3 rating

IEC contactors intended for motor starting duty are rated under IEC 60947-4-1, which defines utilization categories such as AC-3 (starting and running a squirrel-cage motor, breaking at running current) and AC-4 (jogging/plugging duty, breaking at stall current). The AC-3 rated operational current (Ie), stated in amps at a given voltage (commonly 380–415V), is the number that lets you compare contactors across brands on an apples-to-apples basis — it is defined the same way regardless of manufacturer.

How to select an equivalent contactor across brands

1. Read the AC-3 rated current (Ie) and rated voltage off the existing contactor's nameplate or datasheet — not the catalog number.
2. Match pole count (3-pole vs. 4-pole) and auxiliary contact configuration (NO/NC).
3. Match coil voltage and type (AC 50/60Hz vs. DC) exactly — coils are not interchangeable across voltage or type.
4. Confirm physical mounting (DIN rail vs. panel), accessory compatibility (overload relay, auxiliary block), and any certification requirement (UL/CSA vs. CE) your application needs.

Typical series by brand

For orientation only — these are the common IEC contactor lines each brand carries, not an equivalence table:

This table is a starting point for knowing which product line to search on each brand's own datasheet — it is not a substitution chart. Two contactors with the same AC-3 amp rating can still differ in physical size, terminal type, and available accessories; confirm the full datasheet before treating any two brands' contactors as drop-in equivalents.

Finding a contactor you already have

Search the exact catalog number in our catalog, or email the number to our order desk if you need help matching it to an equivalent rating from another brand.

Live examples from our catalog

Currently listed IEC contactors from each brand referenced above — open one to check its AC-3 rating and coil voltage directly against the datasheet.

Allen-Bradley

• 100-C72D10 — 100-C72D10 | Allen-Bradley | US
• 100-C12EJ10 — 100-C12EJ10 | Allen-Bradley | US
• 100-C43N10 — 100-C43N10 | Allen-Bradley | US
• 100-C16KF10 — 100-C16KF10 | Allen-Bradley | US

Schneider Electric

• DPER07 — DPER07 - Schneider Electric Easy TeSys series thermal overload relay, 1.6-2.5A adjustable, bi-metallic, local reset, direct mount power connection(s). For use with DPE09 to DPE38 series contactors.
• LC1D09B7 — LC1D09B7 - IEC contactor, TeSys Deca, nonreversing, 9A, 5HP at 480VAC, up to 100kA SCCR, 3 phase, 3 NO, 24VAC 50/60Hz coil, open style
• LC1D25B7 — LC1D25B7 - IEC contactor, TeSys Deca, nonreversing, 25A, 15HP at 480VAC, up to 100kA SCCR, 3 phase, 3 NO, 24VAC 50/60Hz coil, open
• LAD9R1 — LAD9R1 - Schneider Electric reversing connection kit, for use with Schneider Electric DPE09 to DPE38 contactors, includes line and loadside connection bars and mechanical interlock.

Siemens

• 3RT2023-1AG20 — Siemens SIRIUS contactor 3RT2023-1AG20
• 3RT2016-1NP30 — Siemens SIRIUS contactor 3RT2016-1NP30
• 3RT2038-1AN20 — Siemens SIRIUS contactor 3RT2038-1AN20
• 3RT2023-1AN20 — Siemens SIRIUS contactor 3RT2023-1AN20

Frequently asked questions

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