What the interrupting ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1140-5EF36-0HC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, meaning it sits at the feeder or branch to protect cables and busbars against short-circuit and overload. The interrupting ratings tell you where this breaker can safely clear a fault without welding contacts or rupturing the case: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. Those are the maximum fault currents the breaker can interrupt at each voltage level — if your available fault current at the panel exceeds that figure at the operating voltage, you need a current-limiting upstream device or a higher-rated frame. The 40 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 39 A at 55 °C and 60 °C, 38 A at 65 °C, and 37 A at 70 °C — per the datasheet, no guesswork on the thermal curve.
Built-in accessories: shunt trip and auxiliary switches
This order code ships with a shunt trip (STL) release and two HQ auxiliary switches integrated at the factory. The shunt trip lets a remote signal — from an emergency-stop circuit, a PLC output, or a safety relay — trip the breaker electrically without anyone pulling the handle. The two auxiliary switches provide status feedback (open/closed) to a controller or indicator lamp. No field-install kit is needed; these are part of the base unit as delivered.
Physical fit and panel integration
The 3VA1140-5EF36-0HC0 measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep. It mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the screw terminals. The 3-pole footprint matches the standard SENTRON 3VA1 frame spacing, so it drops into existing panel layouts without re-drilling. Insulation voltage is rated at 800 V, which covers 480 V and 600 V class systems with margin. Maximum power dissipation is 10.8 W — account for that in enclosure thermal calculations if the panel is densely populated.