3-pole 32 A MCCB with TM240 trip — line protection duty
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1132-5EF36-0KC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 32 A continuous, fitted with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release for line protection. The TM designation means the trip unit combines a thermal bimetal for overload protection with a magnetic coil for short-circuit response — no electronic adjustment, no communication module, just a fixed-curve breaker for straightforward feeder or distribution protection. Interrupting capacity is the headline here: 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415 V AC, which puts it in the high-breaking category for industrial switchboards where fault current runs high. At 440 V it still clears 75.6 kA, and at 500 V or 690 V the rating settles to 17 kA — still adequate for most motor branch circuits at those voltages. Thermal derating is published across the full operating range: the breaker carries 32 A flat from 40 °C through 50 °C, then tapers to 31 A at 55–60 °C and 30 A at 65–70 °C (–). That means in a warm panel — say 50 °C ambient — you still get full rated current without a derate factor. The rated insulation voltage (Ui) is 800 V, which covers 480/277 V and 600 V systems with margin, and the maximum operating temperature is 70 °C with storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Power loss at full load is 10.6 W — modest enough for dense panel layouts.
Integration and panel fit
The 3VA1132-5EF36-0KC0 measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep — a compact 3-pole footprint that fits standard MCCB mounting rails in distribution panels. It ships with 2 auxiliary switches (HQ type) built in, so you get status feedback without adding external contact blocks. No undervoltage release and no communication function — this is a basic line-protection breaker, not a smart or remotely tripped device. The trip indicator is absent, so visual trip status comes from the handle position alone.