What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1180-3EF36-0CH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 80 A at 40 °C, designed for line protection in distribution panels and industrial switchboards. Its 75.6 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V AC gives it the headroom to clear high-fault currents without cascading upstream — a key spec when coordinating selectivity in a plant's main or sub-feed. The breaker carries an undervoltage release (UVR) and is factory-configured with two auxiliary switches plus a trip alarm switch (HQ), so it can signal status back to a PLC or annunciator without an add-on module. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, covering most 400/480 V systems with margin.
Ratings and what they mean for your panel
At 40 °C the breaker is rated a full 80 A; it derates to 74 A at 70 °C. That thermal curve matters when the MCCB sits in a crowded enclosure — you don't lose much capacity even near the top of its operating range (-25 °C to 70 °C). Breaking capacity drops as voltage rises: 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 500/690 V. If your service entrance fault current is, say, 65 kA at 240 V, this breaker holds; at 415 V with 60 kA available, it doesn't — that's the selectivity gate. Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — a 3-pole MCCB that fits standard Siemens SENTRON mounting bases and busbar systems. The 70 mm depth leaves room for rear-connected cables or busbars in a 200 mm deep enclosure.
Panel integration notes
Mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the SENTRON mounting base. The UVR coil draws from the line side; verify the control voltage matches your system before energizing. Auxiliary switches and the trip alarm share a common terminal block — wire them to a PLC input card for remote trip indication.