Schneider Electric GVAE11 — GV2/GV3 Auxiliary Contact Block Guide

By Abdullah Zahid
15 min read
Schneider Electric GVAE11 TeSys Deca front-mount auxiliary contact block 1NO 1NC screw clamp for GV2 GV3 manual motor starters

Schneider Electric GVAE11 TeSys Deca Manual Starter and Protector Auxiliary Contact Block, 1 NO and 1 NC, Top Mount, Screw Clamp — Complete Specifications, Compatibility Guide and Ordering

If you are specifying or replacing an auxiliary contact block for a TeSys GV2 or GV3 manual motor starter, the Schneider Electric GVAE11 is the front-mount solution that adds an independent 1NO and 1NC contact pair without adding a millimeter to your enclosure width. Rated at 2.5 A and compatible across seven confirmed GV2 and GV3 starter models, it handles the most common pilot circuit tasks — indicator lights, PLC status inputs, interlock solenoids — with a mechanical durability rating of 100,000 cycles and a voltage range spanning 24–240 V AC and 24–60 V DC.

If you have already confirmed this is the correct part for your starter, check current pricing and availability for the GVAE11 at LeadTime.ca — ships worldwide.

Who Should Buy the GVAE11 — and Who Shouldn't

The GVAE11 is the right choice when all of the following are true:

  • Your base starter is one of the confirmed compatible models: GV2L, GV2LE, GV2ME, GV2P, GV2RT, GV3L, or GV3P
  • Your control circuit requires exactly one normally open (1NO) and one normally closed (1NC) contact pair
  • Your control signal voltage falls within 24–240 V AC or 24–60 V DC
  • Your pilot load device draws no more than 2.5 A continuously or 24 W at 24 V DC
  • Your expected switching frequency falls within 100,000 mechanical cycles over the service life
  • Panel space is constrained and a front-mount solution that holds the 45 mm enclosure width is required

If your starter is a GV4, GV1, or a non-TeSys Schneider device, or if your load current exceeds 2.5 A, this is not the correct part. Consider a contactor-based auxiliary solution or a different TeSys accessory model for those applications.

On this page:

What the GVAE11 Does in a Motor Control Circuit

The Schneider Electric GVAE11 is a 2-pole auxiliary contact block that mounts on the front face of TeSys GV2 and GV3 manual motor starters and protectors. Its function is straightforward: it adds a pair of independent signal contacts — one normally open (terminals 13/14) and one normally closed (terminals 21/22) — that operate in parallel with the starter's mechanical switching action. These contacts carry no motor load current; they are dedicated to the control circuit only, handling signals up to 2.5 A.

The practical value is in what this enables. A GV2ME or GV3P starter by itself switches the motor. Add a GVAE11 and that same mechanical switching action simultaneously activates a pilot light to confirm the motor is running, sends a digital signal to a PLC input module, or releases an interlock solenoid — all without adding relay rungs or consuming additional panel real estate. The 45 mm front-mount form factor means the block clips onto the face of the existing starter without widening the assembly, a critical constraint when panels were designed with exact rail density in mind.

This is also the preferred retrofit path. When a panel builder or maintenance technician discovers that an existing TeSys installation needs status feedback or interlock capability, the GVAE11 is added to the front of the running starter rather than replacing the entire unit. That distinction — accessory versus replacement — is where most of the cost savings are realized.

Typical System Architecture for the GVAE11

The GVAE11 sits between the manual motor starter and the downstream status or interlock devices in the control signal chain. Here is the typical component sequence in a panel using this block:

  • Control power supply (24 V DC or 110–240 V AC) feeds the control bus
  • TeSys GV2 or GV3 manual motor starter handles the main motor switching (GV2ME, GV3P, or equivalent)
  • GVAE11 mounts on the front face of the starter; its contacts open and close with the starter's mechanical state
  • Terminal 13/14 (1NO) connects the control bus to a downstream pilot light, PLC digital input, or relay coil
  • Terminal 21/22 (1NC) connects to an interlock circuit or alarm device that must be energized when the motor is stopped

Where the GVAE11 Is Used: Applications and Deployment Scenarios

The GVAE11 appears in virtually any industry where TeSys GV2 or GV3 manual starters are deployed. In food and beverage and packaging plants, it is used to drive run-status indicator lights on machine panels so operators know at a glance whether a conveyor or pump is running. In water treatment and pump stations, the 1NO contact sends a dry-contact signal to a SCADA or remote monitoring system confirming motor state.

In HVAC applications, the 1NC contact is commonly wired to an alarm relay so that when the manual starter trips or is turned off, a fault signal is generated and routed to a building management system. OEM machinery builders standardize on the GVAE11 because a single part number covers the full GV2 and GV3 product range, simplifying their bill of materials across machine variants.

In retrofit and upgrade scenarios — one of the most common purchasing triggers — a maintenance technician identifies that an existing starter has no status output and needs to feed a new PLC I/O card. Rather than changing the starter, the GVAE11 is added in minutes and the PLC input is wired to terminals 13 and 14.

Application Typical Deployment
Pilot light / run indicator 1NO contact (13/14) drives panel-mounted LED indicator via 24 V AC or DC control bus
PLC digital status input 1NO contact (13/14) wired to PLC digital input module for motor-running feedback
Interlock solenoid triggering 1NO contact (13/14) energizes a solenoid valve or secondary relay when the motor is running
Remote alarm or fault notification 1NC contact (21/22) activates an alarm relay or SCADA dry-contact input when starter is off or tripped
Retrofit / panel upgrade GVAE11 added to existing GV2ME or GV3P without removing or replacing the starter
Material handling / conveyor control Status contacts wired into safety interlock chain or HMI feedback loop

GVAE11 Specifications: What Engineers Need to Evaluate

Specification Value
Pole Configuration 2 pole — 1NO (terminals 13/14) + 1NC (terminals 21/22)
Rated Insulation Voltage [Ui] 300 V (per UL 508, CSA C22.2, IEC 60947-1, UKCA)
Rated Operational Voltage [Ue] AC 24–240 V AC
Rated Operational Voltage [Ue] DC 24–60 V DC
Rated Thermal Current [Ith] 2.5 A (conventional free air)
Minimum Switching Current / Voltage 5 mA / 17 V
Mechanical Durability 100,000 cycles
Electrical Durability (AC-15 and DC-13) 100,000 cycles at rated power across all voltage levels
Terminal / Connection Type Screw clamp — 1.4 N.m tightening torque, flat-blade screwdriver
Physical Dimensions (W × D × H) 45 mm × 29 mm × 11 mm — front-mount, no enclosure width increase

Full technical specifications are available on the product page at LeadTime.ca.

GVAE11 vs. GVAE7: Which Auxiliary Block Do You Actually Need?

The GVAE7 is the primary alternative buyers encounter when sourcing a TeSys GV2/GV3 auxiliary block. Both mount on the front of the same starter models and deliver identical 1NO + 1NC contact configuration, 100,000-cycle mechanical durability, and the same 24–240 V AC / 24–60 V DC voltage range. The single differentiating specification is current capacity: the GVAE11 is rated at 2.5 A; the GVAE7 is rated at 1 A. That difference governs which one belongs in your panel.

Feature GVAE11 GVAE7 Choose Based On
Maximum Current [Ith] 2.5 A 1 A Load device current draw — if load exceeds 1 A, GVAE11 only
Contact Configuration 1NO + 1NC 1NO + 1NC Equivalent — not a differentiator
Voltage Range AC 24–240 V AC 24–240 V AC Equivalent — not a differentiator
Voltage Range DC 24–60 V DC 24–60 V DC Equivalent — not a differentiator
Mechanical Durability 100,000 cycles 100,000 cycles Equivalent — not a differentiator
Mounting Style Front Front Equivalent — both preserve 45 mm starter width
Compatible Starters GV2/GV3 family GV2/GV3 family Equivalent — same compatibility matrix
Relative Cost Standard Lower (estimated 20–30%) GVAE7 for cost-sensitive light-load applications only
Recommended Application Standard industrial use, pilot lights, PLC inputs, solenoid triggering Minimal duty, small LED indicators only When in doubt, specify GVAE11 for current margin

If your pilot load draws more than 1 A — any contactor coil, inductive solenoid, or incandescent indicator — the GVAE7 is undersized and the GVAE11 is the correct specification. Check current GVAE11 availability at LeadTime.ca before committing to either model.

Expert Verdict: Is the GVAE11 Right for Your Application?

For control panel builders and OEM integrators running TeSys GV2 or GV3 starters as their standard motor protection platform, the GVAE11 is one of those components you specify and then stop thinking about. The 2.5 A current capacity covers the full range of typical pilot circuit loads — LED panel lights, PLC digital inputs, small relay coils, and inductive solenoids — with enough headroom that you are not riding the edge of the rating. The 100,000-cycle mechanical durability rating matches everyday industrial duty across manufacturing, HVAC, water treatment, and packaging environments. The front-mount design means you add status contact capability to a starter without touching the DIN rail layout or the enclosure door cutout. For retrofit work specifically, where the starter is already wired and running, this is as low-risk an addition as you will find.

The limits are real and worth stating directly. If your base starter is a GV4, a GV1 series, or any non-TeSys Schneider device, the GVAE11 will not physically or electrically fit — there is no workaround. If your pilot load exceeds 2.5 A, or if your process requires switching beyond 100,000 cycles, this block is not rated for the duty and a contactor-based auxiliary solution is the correct path. Similarly, if your panel design goal is to minimize component count, specifying a TeSys starter with integrated auxiliary contacts from the outset eliminates the add-on block entirely and may be the cleaner engineering choice for new builds.

From a procurement standpoint, the GVAE11 is a mature, widely stocked part with confirmed CSA, IEC, and UKCA certification — it crosses borders without compliance uncertainty. The single most important thing to verify before placing the order is that your existing starter's model number appears on the compatibility list: GV2L, GV2LE, GV2ME, GV2P, GV2RT, GV3L, or GV3P. A five-minute nameplate check eliminates the most common ordering mistake in this product family. When you are ready to confirm availability and current pricing, the GVAE11 product page at LeadTime.ca is the place to start.

For volume pricing on multi-unit orders or to confirm lead time before freezing a build schedule, contact the LeadTime.ca team directly — we ship worldwide.

What Engineers Need to Know Before Ordering the GVAE11

Because the GVAE11 is a mature commodity auxiliary block with straightforward installation and minimal failure modes, it generates almost no community troubleshooting activity across forums like Reddit r/PLC, PLCTalk.net, PLCS.net, or distributor Q&A sections. That absence is itself informative: when a component works reliably and installs without complexity, engineers simply use it and move on. There are no recurring complaints to surface and no widespread ordering war stories circulating in the automation community for this specific model.

What does appear consistently — not in forums, but in distributor support conversations and technical documentation — is a small set of pre-order mistakes that cause delays and rework. The most consequential is assuming that any GVAE-series block fits any TeSys starter. The GVAE11 is explicitly rated for GV2 and GV3 family starters. A technician working on a GV4 or a legacy GV1 device who orders a GVAE11 will receive a part that does not mount. The second most common mistake is selecting the GVAE7 instead — same mounting, same contact configuration, but only 1 A rated — for a load that draws more than 1 A. The part fits physically and electrically at first, but thermal stress on the contacts under continuous load above the rating shortens service life and creates intermittent faults that are difficult to diagnose remotely.

This is precisely the situation where ordering through a specialist distributor rather than a generic online channel pays for itself. LeadTime.ca's team can confirm GVAE11 compatibility against your specific starter model number before the order is processed, verify that your load device current is within the 2.5 A rating, and flag if your control voltage falls outside the 24–240 V AC or 24–60 V DC range. For a component at this price point, that five-minute pre-order check eliminates the cost and delay of a wrong-part return and a second lead time wait.

Wiring and Installation Overview

The GVAE11 uses screw-clamp terminals with a specified tightening torque of 1.4 N.m — a flat-blade screwdriver is required and over-tightening must be avoided to prevent terminal damage. Key points before installation:

  • De-energize and lock/tag the GV2 or GV3 starter before mounting the GVAE11 — verify with a test meter before touching any terminals
  • The normally open contact is wired at terminals 13 (input) and 14 (output); the normally closed contact uses terminals 21 (input) and 22 (output)
  • Control voltage source must match the GVAE11 rating: 24–240 V AC or 24–60 V DC — do not mix AC and DC on the same contact pair
  • The load device connected to either contact pair must draw no more than 2.5 A continuously; verify the load manufacturer's datasheet before wiring
  • The minimum reliable switching threshold is 5 mA and 17 V — loads drawing below these minimums (some low-power sensors or very small LEDs) may produce unreliable contact switching

For full wiring diagrams and detailed installation procedures, consult the Schneider Electric TeSys GVAE11 product datasheet available from the manufacturer's documentation portal.

GV2 and GV3 Starter Compatibility Confirmed

The GVAE11 is confirmed compatible with the following TeSys Deca manual starter and protector models. Compatibility is verified against Schneider Electric's official datasheet and authorized distributor cross-reference documentation.

Starter Model Series Type GVAE11 Compatible
GV2L TeSys Deca GV2 Manual switch Yes
GV2LE TeSys Deca GV2 Manual switch with enclosure Yes
GV2ME TeSys Deca GV2 Motor protector Yes
GV2P TeSys Deca GV2 Motor protector Yes
GV2RT TeSys Deca GV2 Thermal protector Yes
GV3L TeSys Deca GV3 Manual switch Yes
GV3P TeSys Deca GV3 Motor protector Yes

All GVAE11 blocks mount on the front face of these starters. If your starter model number does not appear in this table, do not assume compatibility — contact LeadTime.ca or Schneider Electric directly for confirmation before ordering.

Wrong-Part Prevention: Verify Before You Order

Run through this checklist before placing your GVAE11 order. These seven points address the most common causes of wrong-part shipments and field installation failures for this product family:

  1. Confirm the existing GV2/GV3 manual starter model number and check compatibility matrix in datasheet
  2. Verify control signal voltage (24 V AC, 110 V AC, 240 V AC, 24 V DC, 60 V DC, etc.) matches GVAE11 rating
  3. Check that the load device (pilot light, solenoid, relay coil, etc.) draws ≤2.5 A continuously or ≤24 W at 24 V DC
  4. Confirm mount point is accessible for screw-clamp terminal connection (requires screwdriver and 1.4 N.m torque)
  5. Verify that 100,000-cycle mechanical durability is adequate for the intended duty cycle
  6. Check that the current TeSys starter does not already have a built-in 2-pole auxiliary block
  7. Ensure the control circuit uses only AC or only DC (do not mix voltage types on same contact pair)

If any of these points raises a question you cannot resolve from the datasheet alone, contact the LeadTime.ca team before ordering — confirming the right part takes minutes; sourcing the replacement after a wrong-part shipment takes days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GVAE11 compatible with both GV2 and GV3 series starters, or only one family?

The GVAE11 is confirmed compatible with both GV2 and GV3 TeSys Deca manual starters, covering seven specific models: GV2L, GV2LE, GV2ME, GV2P, GV2RT, GV3L, and GV3P. It is not rated for GV4 series, GV1 series, or non-TeSys Schneider Electric motor protection devices. Always read the model nameplate and cross-reference the compatibility table before ordering.

Can I use the GVAE11 contact to drive a small contactor coil directly, or do I need a relay in between?

The GVAE11 is rated at 2.5 A maximum thermal current, and its AC-15 power rating at 110–120 V AC is 120 VA. Many small contactor coils fall within this rating, but you must verify the specific coil's inrush and sealed current draws against the GVAE11's 2.5 A and 120 VA limits. If the coil's inrush current exceeds 2.5 A even momentarily, an interposing relay is required between the GVAE11 contact and the coil load.

What is the difference between the GVAE11 and the GVAE7, and can I substitute one for the other?

Both blocks share identical contact configuration (1NO + 1NC), voltage range (24–240 V AC / 24–60 V DC), mechanical durability (100,000 cycles), and mounting style (front, 45 mm). The only functional difference is maximum current: GVAE11 is rated 2.5 A; GVAE7 is rated 1 A. Substituting a GVAE7 in an application where the load draws between 1 A and 2.5 A will cause thermal stress on the contacts and premature failure. If you are uncertain about load current, specify the GVAE11.

What do I do if the GVAE11 contact is not switching my pilot load after installation?

First, verify that the control circuit voltage is present at the input terminal and that it falls within the GVAE11's rated range (24–240 V AC or 24–60 V DC). Second, confirm the load device itself is functional using a continuity check. Third, re-check screw-clamp terminal tightness — loose terminals at less than 1.4 N.m torque are a common cause of intermittent or non-responsive contacts. If voltage, load, and terminals are all confirmed correct and the contacts remain unresponsive, the block may have a mechanical fault; contact your distributor for RMA and replacement.

Does the GVAE11 require any special tools or brackets for front-face mounting on a GV2ME or GV3P?

No special brackets or mounting hardware beyond a flat-blade screwdriver are required. The GVAE11 aligns with the mounting points on the front face of compatible GV2 and GV3 starters and is secured with screw fasteners tightened to 1.4 N.m. The assembled width remains at 45 mm — no enclosure modification is needed. Refer to the Schneider Electric TeSys GVAE11 installation datasheet for the mounting diagram specific to your starter model.

Is the GVAE11 certified for use in Canadian and international installations?

Yes. The GVAE11 carries CSA certification (CSA C22.2), IEC certification (IEC 60947-1), and UKCA marking, with a rated insulation voltage of 300 V per UL 508. These certifications cover standard industrial control panel installations across North American and international jurisdictions. Confirm specific local code requirements with your authority having jurisdiction if your application falls outside standard industrial panel environments.

Why Order the GVAE11 from LeadTime.ca

  • Global shipping on all orders — LeadTime.ca sources and ships the GVAE11 worldwide, not limited to any single region
  • Pre-order compatibility confirmation — the team can cross-check your GV2 or GV3 starter model number against the GVAE11 compatibility matrix before processing the order
  • Hard-to-find and urgent replacement sourcing — specialist distributor channels reach stock across multiple supply networks when primary inventory is depleted
  • Volume pricing available — contact for current pricing on multi-unit orders for panel builders and OEM integrators
  • Technical support access — distributor staff familiar with TeSys product family can advise on current rating, mounting position, and contact configuration questions before you commit

At-a-Glance Summary

  • Product: Schneider Electric GVAE11 — TeSys Deca Manual Starter and Protector Auxiliary Contact Block, 1 NO and 1 NC, Top Mount, Screw Clamp
  • Contact configuration: 1NO (terminals 13/14) + 1NC (terminals 21/22) — 2 pole, independent of main motor contacts
  • Rated thermal current: 2.5 A maximum continuous in free air
  • Voltage range: 24–240 V AC and 24–60 V DC — single part number covers mixed-voltage facilities
  • Rated insulation voltage: 300 V per UL 508, CSA C22.2, IEC 60947-1, UKCA
  • Minimum switching threshold: 5 mA and 17 V — not suitable for sub-threshold low-power loads
  • Mechanical and electrical durability: 100,000 cycles at all rated voltage and power levels
  • Tightening torque: 1.4 N.m screw-clamp terminals — flat-blade screwdriver required
  • Physical dimensions: 45 mm W × 29 mm D × 11 mm H — front-mount preserves starter enclosure width
  • Confirmed compatible starters: GV2L, GV2LE, GV2ME, GV2P, GV2RT, GV3L, GV3P
  • Not compatible with: GV4 series, GV1 series, non-TeSys starters
  • Certifications: CSA, IEC, UKCA
  • Country of origin: Czech Republic

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