ETIM class EC000141 covers power contactors used for switching AC motor loads and power circuits. It includes 3-pole and 4-pole IEC contactors rated per IEC/EN 60947-4-1, but not installation contactors (DIN-rail modular type), motor starters with integrated overloads, or definite-purpose HVAC contactors, which each have separate classes.
Product scope
EC000141 is the class for IEC power contactors: the block-style devices that sit inside motor control centers, control panels, and machine enclosures. Three-pole contactors for motor loads, four-pole versions for resistive or lighting circuits, and reversing pairs all land here. If it has a control coil and main power contacts rated for AC-3 motor switching duty, this is the class.
What doesn't belong: modular installation contactors designed for DIN-rail mounting in residential distribution boards have their own class. Motor starters with integrated thermal or electronic overload relays are classified separately. Contactor relays (miniature contactors used only for control circuit switching) also get their own EC code. The boundary trips people up because manufacturers like ABB, Schneider, and Siemens use "contactor" in the product name for all of these.
Key features
EC000141 carries around 20 features. The ones below drive the most filter traffic in distributor catalogs.
| EF Code | Feature | Type | Example value |
|---|---|---|---|
| EF001392 | Rated operational current AC-3, 400V | Numeric (A) | 16 |
| EF001364 | Rated operational power AC-3, 400V | Numeric (kW) | 7.5 |
| EF001374 | Number of normally open poles | Numeric | 3 |
| EF001375 | Number of normally closed poles | Numeric | 0 |
| EF003980 | Rated control supply voltage DC | Range (V) | 24 |
| EF008242 | Actuating voltage type | Alphanumeric | DC |
| EF001376 | Number of NO auxiliary contacts | Numeric | 1 |
Other features include rated operational current for AC-1 duty (EF001393), AC-4 duty (EF008495), operating voltage ranges at 50 Hz and 60 Hz (EF008206, EF008207), main circuit connection type (EF006819), and physical dimensions (EF000008, EF000040, EF000049).
Worked example
Classifying an ABB AF16-30-10 contactor (24V DC coil)
| Feature | EF Code | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Rated operational current AC-3, 400V | EF001392 | 16 A |
| Rated operational power AC-3, 400V | EF001364 | 7.5 kW |
| Number of normally open poles | EF001374 | 3 |
| Number of normally closed poles | EF001375 | 0 |
| Rated control supply voltage DC | EF003980 | 20-60 V |
| Actuating voltage type | EF008242 | DC |
| Number of NO auxiliary contacts | EF001376 | 1 |
| Number of NC auxiliary contacts | EF001377 | 0 |
| Rated operational current AC-1, 400V | EF001393 | 30 A |
| Width | EF000008 | 45 mm |
Common classification mistakes
Confusing AC-1 and AC-3 current ratings is the most damaging mistake. AC-1 is for resistive loads (heaters, lighting). AC-3 is for motor starting under load. The ABB AF16 is rated 30A at AC-1 but only 16A at AC-3. Putting the AC-1 number into the AC-3 field makes a 16A contactor look like a 30A contactor in motor load searches. Buyers size contactors by AC-3 ratings; the wrong number means wrong selections.
The AF16's "30" in its product name refers to the AC-1 rating. Its AC-3 rating at 400V is 16A. Swapping these two values in your ETIM data will mislead every engineer filtering by motor load capacity.
Mixing up coil voltage fields trips teams that classify contactors with wide-range electronic coils. The ABB AF series accepts 20-60V DC from a single coil variant. ETIM has separate range features for AC 50 Hz (EF003978), AC 60 Hz (EF003979), and DC (EF003980). An AF16-30-10-11 with a 24-60V DC coil gets the DC field populated. Putting that range into the AC fields creates phantom results in voltage-filtered searches.
Omitting auxiliary contact counts (EF001376, EF001377) seems minor until a panel builder filters for "contactor with 1NO auxiliary." The AF16-30-10 ships with one built-in NO auxiliary. Without that data, the product vanishes from the search results and the buyer orders a separate auxiliary contact block they didn't need.
Check your classification with the ETIM classification checker. For how ETIM fits inside BMEcat exports, see What is ETIM in BMEcat. And if your trading partner just asked for ETIM data, Your Distributor Just Asked for ETIM Data covers the first steps.