What this MCCB does — and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1132-3EF36-0HA0 is a 3-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, carrying a continuous current of 32 A at 40 °C — that's the current it handles without tripping in a typical 40 °C panel ambient. At 240 V it interrupts faults up to 75.6 kA, which gives you serious SCCR headroom for high-fault installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. The shunt trip release (STL) lets a remote signal or safety circuit force the breaker open, so it fits into emergency-stop chains or undervoltage protection schemes. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so it's comfortable on 480 V and 600 V class systems. The thermal-magnetic trip unit is the TM240 — fixed thermal and magnetic settings, no adjustment dial. That keeps the part simple for standard feeder or branch protection where you don't need field-adjustable trip curves. If you need adjustable thermal or magnetic pickup, you'd step up to the electronic trip versions in the 3VA series.
Breaking capacity across voltages — where it fits
Breaking capacity drops as voltage rises: 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That 11.9 kA at 690 V is the number to check if you're on a 690 V industrial network — it's adequate for many downstream feeders but not for high-fault main breakers at that voltage. At 240 V it's a monster; at 690 V it's a solid distribution breaker.
Current derating — the real continuous rating in a warm panel
The 32 A rating holds steady from 40 °C through 50 °C, then drops to 31 A at 55 °C and 60 °C, and 30 A at 65 °C and 70 °C. If your panel runs hot — say, above 50 °C — you need to account for that 1–2 A derating. The power loss at full load is 10.6 W, which is modest for a 3-pole MCCB; that heat goes into the panel, so factor it into your thermal budget if the enclosure is tightly packed.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the 3VA frame size. It mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-mounted in a panel. The 70 mm depth means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures with room for wiring behind it.