The Siemens 3VA1110-5MH32-0DH0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for starter protection — meaning it's built to handle motor-starting inrush and coordinate with contactors and overload relays in a motor control center. Rated 100 A continuous at 40 °C, it holds that rating through 50 °C before derating begins at 55 °C (98 A) down to 91 A at 70 °C, so it's sized for a 100 A motor feeder without needing to oversize for typical panel ambient temperatures. The interrupting rating is the headline: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 7.5 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That 187 kA at 240 V is exceptionally high — it's a fault-current rating that covers virtually any low-voltage distribution panel in North America, where available fault current can exceed 100 kA near large transformers. At 415 V the 121 kA still covers most industrial service entrances. The steep drop to 7.5 kA at 500 V and 690 V means this breaker is not intended for 690 V motor circuits with high fault potential; for those, a higher-voltage-rated frame would be needed.
Integration and Mounting
Three-pole design, 76.2 mm wide (3 in), 130 mm tall (5.12 in), 70 mm deep (2.76 in). Fits standard Siemens SENTRON panelboard and MCCB mounting bases. The 3-pole footprint is the same as other 100 A SENTRON frames, so a swap-in replacement for an existing 3VA1 breaker requires no bus-bar rework. Includes an undervoltage release (UVR) as the auxiliary release — this is a coil that trips the breaker when control voltage drops below a threshold, common in safety circuits where loss of control power must open the motor circuit. The auxiliary switch configuration is 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ), giving three separate signal contacts for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel.
Ratings and What They Mean
Rated insulation voltage 800 V — the internal insulation system is designed for 800 V line-to-line, so the breaker can be applied on 480 V and 600 V systems with margin. The 800 V rating also means it's suitable for 690 V systems where the interrupting rating (7.5 kA) is adequate. Maximum power loss 27.5 W at rated current — this is the heat the breaker dissipates into the enclosure. For a panel with multiple breakers, this figure drives ventilation or derating calculations. At 100 A, 27.5 W is typical for a 3-pole MCCB of this class. Operating temperature range -25 °C to 70 °C, storage -40 °C to 80 °C. The storage range exceeds operating — that's the handling limit, not the running limit. The breaker can be stored in unheated warehouses across most climates.