What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1110-3EF36-0AE0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — the primary role is to protect cables and distribution bus from overloads and short circuits in a low-voltage switchboard or panel. It carries a 100 A continuous rating at 40 °C and a 3-pole construction, so it fits three-phase feeders up to that ampacity. The TM240 thermal-magnetic release means the thermal element is fixed at 240 A frame rating and the magnetic pickup is adjustable — typical for distribution rather than motor-starting duty.
Breaking capacity — what the numbers mean for your system
This MCCB interrupts 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That's a high-interrupting-capacity (HIC) device — it can clear a bolted fault at the service entrance without needing an upstream current-limiting fuse. For a 480 V panel, the 32 kA SCCR gives headroom for most industrial transformer ratings. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so it's rated for 690 V line-to-line systems.
Thermal derating and panel fit
The 100 A rating holds steady from 40 °C to 50 °C (–), then derates to 98 A at 55 °C, 96 A at 60 °C, 94 A at 65 °C, and 91 A at 70 °C (–). If the panel ambient runs above 50 °C, you lose about 2 A per 5 °C rise — plan your enclosure ventilation accordingly. Dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or screw-mount panels. Maximum power loss is 25 W, which is modest for a 100 A frame; no special heat sink needed.