What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3RV2311-1HC20 is a SIRIUS circuit breaker designed specifically for starter combinations — meaning it integrates motor protection and short-circuit protection in one device, sized for the motor branch circuit rather than a general distribution panel. Rated voltage range covers 20 to 690 V, with a breaking capacity of 100 kA at 400 V AC — that is the fault current it can safely interrupt without welding contacts or cascading damage upstream, which is the main spec for coordination studies. At 400 V, the maximum fuse backup rating is gL/gG 50 A; at 500 V it drops to 40 A, and at 690 V to 35 A — so if you are using this in a high-fault installation, the upstream fuse must be sized to these limits to maintain the rated breaking capacity. Motor horsepower ratings are listed per voltage: 2 hp at 200/208 V, 5 hp at 460/480 V and 575/600 V, and 1 hp at 230 V — these are the NEMA-equivalent loads the breaker can handle in AC-3 duty.
Mounting and integration
Mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 60715, in any orientation — so it fits standard enclosures without worrying about derating for sideways mounting. Dimensions: 45 mm wide, 106 mm high, 97 mm deep — the width is a single modular unit, so it occupies one slot on the DIN rail. Clearance requirements: 50 mm above and below, 30 mm to the side, zero forward or backward — plan your enclosure layout accordingly to avoid heat buildup and maintain arc-fault clearance. Spring-loaded terminals on the main circuit accept 2x (0.5 to 4 mm²) solid or stranded wire — no need for ferrules, but the spring mechanism requires a screwdriver to open, not a push-in tool.
Environmental and lifecycle
Operating temperature range is -20 to +60 °C; storage and transport range is -50 to +80 °C — the wider storage limit means it can sit in a cold warehouse or hot truck without damage, but the operating limit governs the panel ambient. Lifecycle stage is current production.