MCCB for high-fault panels
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1110-5EF36-0CH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 100 A at 40 °C, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V — that is the short-circuit current it can safely clear without welding contacts or rupturing the case, making it suitable for high-fault service-entrance or sub-distribution boards where available fault current is high. The breaker includes an undervoltage release (UVR) that trips the mechanism when supply voltage drops below a set threshold, protecting downstream equipment from brownout damage.
Current derating and thermal limits
The 100 A rating holds from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient. Above that, derate linearly: 98 A at 55 °C, 96 A at 60 °C, 94 A at 65 °C, and 91 A at 70 °C. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C, storage range -40 to 80 °C. Power dissipation at full load is 27.5 W — relevant for enclosure heat rise calculations when grouping multiple breakers.
Interrupting ratings across voltages
The breaker's interrupting capacity varies with system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V. For a 480 V panel, the 75.6 kA figure at 440 V is the closest published point; coordination studies should use the lower 17 kA at 500 V if the actual line voltage exceeds 440 V.
Auxiliary and trip indication
The breaker ships with a trip indicator (mechanical flag) and an auxiliary switch configuration: 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ type). The auxiliary switches signal the breaker's open/closed state to a PLC or status lamp; the trip alarm switch closes only on a fault trip, distinguishing it from manual opening. This is useful for remote monitoring of downstream faults without adding external relays.