What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1140-6EF36-0BA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 40 A continuous current, built for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity hits 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, and 121 kA at 440 V — numbers that tell you it handles high-fault-current service entrances and large industrial switchboards without cascading upstream. The TM240 overcurrent release is a thermal-magnetic unit, so it gives you inverse-time overload protection plus instantaneous short-circuit trip. No voltage trigger, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring — this is a straight-ahead line-protection breaker.
Ratings that matter for fit
At 40 A, this breaker holds its full rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C. Above that, it derates: 38.4 A at 55 °C, 37.6 A at 60 °C, 36.8 A at 65 °C, and 36 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot, that derating curve decides whether this frame size works or you need a bigger one. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so it's fine for 480/277 V and 600 V systems. The 17 kA at 690 V is a lower-end figure — if you're on a 690 V system with high fault current, check coordination carefully. It carries an undervoltage release (UVR) as standard — part number 3VA9608-0BB11 for the integrated auxiliary trip. No auxiliary contacts are included, so if you need status feedback to a PLC or alarm, you'll add those separately.
Panel fit and mounting
Dimensions are 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, and 70 mm deep. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint — it'll drop into most DIN-rail or panel-mount bases without re-drilling. Front protection is IP40, so it's fine for a clean indoor panel but not for washdown or dusty environments. No trip indicator on the front — you'll need to look at the handle position or add an auxiliary contact for remote indication.