63 A MCCB with 187 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V — selectivity headroom for fault-current-heavy distribution
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1163-5ED32-0KC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 63 A continuous current at 40 °C, carrying a TM210 thermal-magnetic release. Its interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — numbers that put it squarely in the high-fault-current tier for industrial distribution panels, not a light-duty feeder breaker. The TM210 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic design — no interchangeable trip units, no electronic adjustment. That means the breaker ships set for a 63 A trip threshold and stays there. For a BOM line that needs a coordinated trip curve without field-adjustability risk, this is the right choice; for a site that expects to dial in different ampacities per load, it is not.
Thermal derating — full 63 A up to 50 °C, then a gradual roll-off
The breaker holds its full 63 A rating from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 60.48 A, at 60 °C to 59.22 A, at 65 °C to 57.96 A, and at 70 °C to 56.7 A. That is a 10% drop from 63 A to 56.7 A across the 50–70 °C band — predictable, monotonic, and easy to factor into a panel thermal budget. If your enclosure ambient runs above 50 °C, size the upstream transformer or bus for the derated value, not the nameplate 63 A.
Integrated shunt trip — factory-fitted, no field wiring of a separate release
This order code includes a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release as a factory-integrated component, referenced as 3VA9688-0BL33. That means remote tripping via a control voltage is built in — no separate undervoltage release (absent here), no additional module to mount and wire. The breaker also carries 2 auxiliary switches (HQ type) for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. Communication functions and phase failure detection are not present on this variant. The latching endurance is rated at 15,000 operations — a mechanical endurance figure that matters for applications requiring frequent open/close cycles under no-load or low-load conditions. For a distribution feeder that cycles once a month, that number is irrelevant; for a welding or furnace tap that cycles daily, it defines the service interval.
Physical footprint and panel fit
Dimensions: 70 mm depth, 76.2 mm width, 130 mm height. The front face carries an IP40 protection class — sufficient for a clean indoor panel, not for washdown or outdoor exposure. The 3-pole form factor occupies three modular positions on a DIN rail or panel-mount base, with line and load terminals accessible from the front for ring-tongue or box-lug terminations.