What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1163-4EF32-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — the primary feeder breaker in a distribution panel or a branch-circuit protector on a motor control center. Rated 63 A continuous at 40 °C with a thermal-magnetic overcurrent release (TM240), it handles the full load current of a moderate-sized pump, conveyor, or lighting panel without nuisance tripping. The 121 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V means it can safely clear a bolted fault on a high-capacity transformer secondary — think a 300 kVA 208Y/120 V transformer — without the arc flash escalating upstream.
Breaking capacity across voltages
This MCCB delivers 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That 11.9 kA at 690 V is the limiting figure for a 690 V distribution system — if your available fault current exceeds that, you need a current-limiting upstream fuse or a higher-rated frame. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the breaker itself is insulated for 690 V line-to-line use; the 11.9 kA is the interrupting limit at that voltage, not a dielectric limitation.
Thermal derating and ambient temperature
The 63 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C (–). Above that it begins to taper: 62 A at 55 °C, 61 A at 60 °C, 60 A at 65 °C, and 58 A at 70 °C (–). If the panel ambient runs at 55 °C, you lose 1 A; at 70 °C you lose 5 A. For a 60 A continuous load in a hot enclosure, this breaker still holds — but you are at the edge of the curve. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Undervoltage release and auxiliary options
This variant includes an undervoltage release (UVR) — when the control voltage drops below a set threshold, the breaker trips. That is standard for safety circuits where a loss of control power must open the main disconnect (e.g., emergency-stop chains or machine-guarding interlocks). The UVR is a separate auxiliary release, not the main trip unit. There is no ground-fault monitoring and no communication function — this is a plain line-protection breaker, not a metering or remote-trip version. The trip indicator is absent, so you will not get a visual flag on the front; you rely on the handle position.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth. That 70 mm depth is the body only — add handle throw and wiring space. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) is standard for a 3-pole 63 A frame; it occupies three 25 mm module spaces on a DIN rail or a panel-mount cutout. Maximum power loss is 19.8 W — negligible for thermal management in a ventilated enclosure, but worth noting if the panel is sealed and densely packed. The supplied basic switch order code is 3VA11634EF320AA0 — that is the internal switching mechanism; you order the full breaker as 3VA1163-4EF32-0CA0.