The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1163-5EF36-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 63 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a rated insulation voltage of 800 V. It carries a 187 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V AC — that's the figure that governs fault-clearing at typical North American line voltages. At 415 V (common in European industrial grids) it still interrupts 121 kA, and at 690 V it holds 17 kA. This is a line-protection design, not a motor-protection breaker; it's sized for feeder or main breaker duty in a distribution panel. The factory-fit accessories include a shunt trip release (STL) for remote tripping and two auxiliary switches (HQ) for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module — this is a clean, hardwired breaker for standard distribution. Power loss is 17.3 W at rated load, which matters for thermal budgeting inside a sealed enclosure.
Mounting and integration
The 3VA1163-5EF36-0HC0 measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. It mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the four-corner screw pattern. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint — it will drop into the same panel cutout as other SENTRON 3VA frames of the same pole count without rewiring the bus bars. The shunt trip (STL) is wired separately from the main power path; it requires a control voltage to be applied to trip the breaker remotely. The two HQ auxiliary switches change state with the main contacts.
Thermal derating and operating range
The breaker is rated 63 A from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates linearly: 62 A at 55 °C, 61 A at 60 °C, 60 A at 65 °C, and 58 A at 70 °C. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. If the panel ambient exceeds 50 °C, the continuous current must be adjusted per the derating curve — the 58 A at 70 °C is the floor.