What this breaker is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1010-4ED36-0DC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — meaning it sits upstream protecting a feeder or distribution bus, not a specific motor or load. It's a 3-pole unit with a continuous current rating of 100 A across ambient temperatures from 40 °C to 50 °C, derating to 91 A at 70 °C. The interrupting capacity is substantial: 121 kA at 240 V AC, 75.6 kA at 415 V, and it still holds 11.9 kA at 690 V. That high breaking capacity means it can handle a hard fault on a large transformer or a long feeder run without needing an upstream current-limiting fuse.
Built-in auxiliary and release options
This variant ships with two factory-fitted auxiliary switches (HQ type) and an undervoltage release (UVR). The UVR trips the breaker when control voltage drops below its dropout threshold — common on emergency-stop circuits or undervoltage protection schemes. The auxiliary switches give remote status feedback (open/closed/tripped) to a PLC or annunciator. No communication module or ground-fault monitoring on this code; it's a straightforward line-protection breaker with the basics covered.
Panel fit and dimensions
The breaker measures 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, and 130 mm tall. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the 100 A frame — it'll drop into a DIN-rail-mounted or screw-mounted panel layout without surprises. The 3VA series shares the same mounting pattern across the 100 A frame, so if you're swapping from another 3VA variant, the bus-bar and lug positions are consistent.
Thermal derating curve
The breaker carries its full 100 A rating up to 50 °C ambient. Above that, it derates linearly: 98 A at 55 °C, 96 A at 60 °C, 94 A at 65 °C, and 91 A at 70 °C. If your panel interior runs hot — say near a transformer or in a non-ventilated enclosure — factor that derating into your conductor and load sizing. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Power loss and insulation rating
Maximum power loss is 27.5 W at rated current — that's heat the panel must dissipate. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, which covers most 480 V and 600 V class systems with headroom. The breaker is designed for line protection, not motor protection (no thermal-magnetic motor curve here).