What it is and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA1163-6GF42-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 63 A continuous, in a 4-pole configuration. It uses a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — the thermal element handles overloads, the magnetic element handles short circuits, with a fixed trip threshold tuned for line protection duty. The breaker sits in a standard panel or enclosure footprint: 101.6 mm wide, 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep, with IP40 protection on the front face.
Breaking capacity — what the numbers mean for your fault level
This MCCB carries a 220 kA interrupting rating at 240 V, dropping to 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That 220 kA figure at 240 V is high — it handles very large fault currents typical near a transformer secondary or in a high-capacity distribution board. At 690 V the 17 kA rating is still substantial for a 63 A frame; you can coordinate this breaker downstream of a larger feeder without worrying about cascading failure. The 4-pole design means it switches all three phases plus neutral, which matters for TN-S or TN-C-S systems where you need to isolate the neutral on a fault.
Thermal derating — real-world current handling
The 63 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient. 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 your panel runs hot — say a packed enclosure near a furnace line or in a non-climate-controlled electrical room — you lose only about 8% at the top end. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C, storage range -40 °C to 80 °C. Power dissipation tops out at 17.3 W, which is manageable for thermal budgeting in a multi-breaker panel.