What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1132-4EF36-0AF0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection, carrying a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. At 40 °C it's rated for 32 A continuous, with a maximum power loss of 10.6 W. The interrupting capacity hits 121 kA at 240 V and 75.6 kA at 415 V, so it handles serious fault currents on distribution or feeder circuits without cascading upstream.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The 32 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 50 °C, then derates to 30 A at 70 °C — a tight thermal curve that matters when you're packing breakers into a warm enclosure. The TM240 release means the thermal element is calibrated for a 240 A frame, so this is a 32 A breaker on a 240 A frame, giving you headroom for higher-rated plug-in modules later if the load grows. Breaking capacity is specified across multiple voltages: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That 11.9 kA at 690 V is the limiting number for 690 V line-ups — verify your available fault current doesn't exceed that at the point of installation. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the operating temperature range spans -25 °C to 70 °C, with storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The auxiliary switch configuration is 1 auxiliary + 1 trip alarm (HQ type), which gives you both a status signal and a separate alarm on trip — useful for remote monitoring without adding a separate shunt.
Panel fit and integration
At 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep, this breaker fits standard SENTRON 3VA panel cutouts. The depth is shallow enough for most 200 mm deep enclosures, leaving room for wiring gutters and busbar connections. No undervoltage release or communication function on this variant — it's a straight line-protection MCCB with a trip indicator.