The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1132-6EF32-0KA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection. It carries a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release and an integrated shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release for remote tripping. Rated 32 A continuously at 40 °C ambient, it derates to 30 A at 70 °C — a curve worth noting if the breaker sits in a warm enclosure or next to other heat sources. Short-circuit breaking capacity is the headline here: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That SCCR at the lower voltages makes this breaker a strong candidate for high-fault panels — think large transformer secondaries or busway feeds where available fault current is well above what a standard 25 kA or 65 kA MCCB could handle. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the breaker is comfortable on 480 V and 600 V class systems with margin. The shunt trip release (STL) means you can wire a remote emergency-stop or supervisory signal to open the breaker without being at the handle — common in E-stop circuits or PLC-controlled load shedding.
Sizing and thermal derating
The 32 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it drops to 31 A, and at 70 °C it is 30 A. If the panel ambient runs hot — say 50 °C inside a NEMA 12 enclosure with other devices — you still get the full 32 A. Above that, plan the load at 30 A to avoid nuisance tripping. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum at rated current. That is modest for a 3-pole 32 A MCCB, but in a densely packed panel the cumulative heat from several breakers adds up — factor it into your thermal budget.
Physical fit and integration
Dimensions are 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall. The 76.2 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this class — it fits the same DIN-rail or panel-mount cutout as other SENTRON 3VA frame breakers. Depth at 70 mm is shallow enough for most 200 mm deep enclosures with room for wiring behind. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. That covers unheated warehouses and outdoor enclosures in most climates.