What this MCCB is and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1110-6MH32-0AB0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in the starter protection version — meaning it is configured for motor branch-circuit protection, not plain feeder duty. The TM120M thermal-magnetic release gives it a rated continuous current Iu of 100 A, and it holds that full 100 A up to 50 °C ambient without derating. At 55 °C it still carries 98 A, at 60 °C it's 96 A, at 65 °C it's 94 A, and at 70 °C it's 91 A — so for a panel that runs warm, you keep nearly all the ampacity. The breaking capacity is the headline number that decides if this breaker coordinates with the upstream transformer or service. At 240 V it interrupts 220 kA; at 415 V it's 154 kA; at 440 V it's 121 kA; at 690 V it drops to 8.5 kA. That 220 kA at 240 V is a very high interrupting rating — it handles faults on a large secondary bus without needing a current-limiting fuse ahead of it. The 690 V figure (8.5 kA) tells you this is not a 690 V main breaker; it's a 480 V class device with a high-end short-circuit rating at the lower voltages where most industrial motor control centers operate. It is a 3-pole unit with two auxiliary switches (HP type) built in — no undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring. The front protection is IP40, which is typical for a panel-mounted MCCB; it keeps tools and fingers out but is not rated for washdown. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, and the maximum DC operational voltage is 500 V, so it can be used on DC circuits up to that level if the DC breaking capacity is verified separately. The basic switch inside this assembly is order code 3VA11106MH320AA0 — that is the core switching mechanism without the trip unit. For sourcing, if you need the full breaker as listed here, the 3VA1110-6MH32-0AB0 is the complete unit with the TM120M release and the auxiliary switches already installed.
Panel integration and physical fit
The dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, and 70 mm depth. That 76.2 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the SENTRON 3VA1 frame. The 70 mm depth fits most enclosures. Mounting is via the standard SENTRON clip or screw-mount kit (not included). The front-facing IP40 bezel protects the trip-unit adjustment dials and the handle mechanism. There is no trip indicator on this version — the breaker signals its state only through the handle position and the auxiliary switches.
What it replaces and what it does not
If you are replacing an older SENTRON 3VA1 frame breaker or a 3VA1110-5EE32-0DC0, this 3VA1110-6MH32-0AB0 shares the same physical footprint and the same 100 A frame. The key difference is the TM120M release (thermal-magnetic, fixed) versus the electronic release on the -5EE32 variant. The TM120M is a simpler, more rugged trip unit — no adjustment dials, no communication, no ground-fault option. It drops into the same panel without rewiring, but verify the trip curve matches your coordination study. The 3VA1010-4ED32-0AC0 is a smaller 100 A frame (different width) and is not a direct mechanical swap.