What this 3VA1163-3EF32-0HC0 is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1163-3EF32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a continuous current rating of 63 A at 40 °C, with minimal derating up to 70 °C — at 65 °C it still holds 60 A, and at 70 °C it's rated 58 A, so you can run it warm without swapping frames. The interrupting capacity is what makes this a fast mover for plant spares: 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That covers most low-voltage fault scenarios in a 400 V class panel without needing a current-limiting upstream breaker. Physical footprint is 130 mm tall, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB form factor that drops into existing SENTRON or comparable panel mountings without re-drilling the gland plate.
Sourcing and lifecycle — still a current-production line item
The unit ships with a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and provisions for two HQ auxiliary switches, so it's ready for remote tripping and status feedback right out of the box. No separate undervoltage release is fitted — that's a field-add option if your safety circuit requires it.
Panel integration notes
At 70 mm deep and 76.2 mm wide, this breaker fits a standard 3-pole MCCB slot in a SENTRON distribution board or any DIN-rail-compatible enclosure. The 130 mm height leaves room for cable bending below the line terminals. Maximum power dissipation is 17.3 W — factor that into your enclosure thermal budget, especially if you're grouping several breakers in a sealed cabinet. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so it's fine for 690 V line-to-line systems common in heavy industrial drives and motor control centers.