What this MCCB carries and where it fits
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1163-5EF36-0AA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 63 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Its interrupting capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V — figures that govern its placement in a selective coordination study. The 800 V rated insulation voltage means it can sit in 480/277 V or 600 V panels with headroom. Designed for line protection, it carries no undervoltage release, no trip indicator, and no communication function — it's a straight feeder or branch breaker, not a metering or remote-trip device.
Thermal derating — the real continuous current
The 63 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 62 A, at 60 °C to 61 A, at 65 °C to 60 A, and at 70 °C to 58 A. If the breaker lives in a non-air-conditioned enclosure near a heat source, use the 58 A figure at 70 °C for the continuous load calculation — not the catalog 63 A. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Physical footprint and panel fit
Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep. The 3-pole width of 76.2 mm (3 inches) matches the standard MCCB footprint for a 63 A frame — it occupies one 3-inch slot in a panelboard or switchboard. No special adapter plate needed for a standard SENTRON mounting base.
Power loss budget
Maximum power dissipation is 17.3 W at rated current. For a 3-pole breaker in a sealed enclosure, that 17.3 W contributes to the internal temperature rise — factor it into the thermal derating calculation above.