What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1032-4ED36-0HC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or distribution point to protect cables and busbars from overloads and short circuits, not a specific motor or device. It's a 3-pole unit rated 32 A continuously at 40 °C, and it carries a 121 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V AC — that's the fault current it can safely clear without welding contacts or rupturing the case. At 415 V it still handles 75.6 kA, and at 690 V it's rated 11.9 kA, so it covers both low-voltage distribution and higher-voltage industrial feeds where the available fault current is high.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The 32 A continuous rating holds across 40 °C to 50 °C without derating, then drops to 31 A at 55–60 °C and 30 A at 65–70 °C — useful if the breaker lives in a warm enclosure or near other heat sources. The interrupting ratings tell you where it can be applied: at 240 V it's good for 121 kA, so it can go into a high-capacity transformer secondary; at 415 V it's 75.6 kA, typical for a large industrial switchboard; at 690 V it's 11.9 kA, which still covers many motor control center applications. The rated insulation voltage of 800 V means the internal clearances and creepage are designed for 690 V systems with margin.
Built-in accessories and panel fit
This breaker ships with a shunt trip (STL) release and two auxiliary switches (HQ) factory-installed — the shunt trip lets you remotely trip the breaker via a control signal (e.g., from an emergency stop relay or a PLC output), and the auxiliary switches give you status feedback (open/closed/tripped) for the control system. The dimensions are 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall — a standard SENTRON 3VA footprint that fits into most distribution panels and switchboard cubicles without special adapters. The 3-pole design with line-protection curve means it's not a motor-protective breaker (no adjustable thermal or magnetic settings for motor inrush), so don't swap it into a motor starter bucket expecting the right trip coordination.