Siemens 3VA1132-6GE46-0AA0 — 32 A, 4-pole SENTRON MCCB for line protection
The Siemens 3VA1132-6GE46-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated at 32 A continuous, with four poles and a TM220 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It's designed for line protection — meaning it sits at the incoming feeder or main distribution point in a panel, not on a specific motor or load branch. The 4-pole configuration covers three-phase plus neutral, common for TN or TT systems where you need full isolation on all live conductors. Breaking capacity is the headline: 220 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That's a high-interrupting rating — the 220 kA figure at 240 V tells you this breaker is sized for transformer secondary or large busway fault duty where available fault current is extreme. At 415 V, 154 kA still covers most industrial main switchboard applications. The sharp drop to 17 kA above 500 V means you need to verify the system voltage against the rating table before specifying.
Thermal derating and ambient temperature
The 32 A rating holds at ambient up to 50 °C — no derating needed in a standard 40 °C panel environment. At 55 °C it drops to 31 A, and at 70 °C it's still 30 A. That's a shallow derating curve, which means the breaker runs cool and the bimetal element is well-calibrated. Operating range is -25 °C to +70 °C ambient, storage from -40 °C to +80 °C. The IP40 front protection means the breaker face is protected against tools and wires >1 mm, but the enclosure itself must provide the overall panel IP rating.
Dimensions and panel fit
Physical footprint: 101.6 mm wide (4 inches), 130 mm tall (5.12 inches), 70 mm deep (2.76 inches). The 4-inch width is standard for a 4-pole MCCB in this class — it occupies four 1-inch pole spaces on a DIN rail or panel-mount plate. Depth of 70 mm means it clears a standard 200 mm deep enclosure with room for wiring gutters. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum — negligible for thermal budgeting inside a ventilated panel, but worth noting if you're packing multiple breakers in a sealed stainless enclosure.