What it is and what the ratings mean
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1180-3EF36-0DC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries an 80 A continuous rating at 40 °C ambient — that's the current it will pass without tripping in a typical 40 °C panel environment. The thermal derating curve is already mapped: at 55 °C it's still good for 78 A, at 65 °C it's 75 A, and at 70 °C it holds 74 A. So if your panel runs hot, you don't lose much headroom. The breaking capacity tells you the maximum fault current this breaker can safely interrupt at a given voltage. At 240 V it's rated for 75.6 kA, at 415 V it's 52.5 kA, at 440 V it's 32 kA, and at 500 V or 690 V it's 11.9 kA. For a 480 V panel (common in North America), the 32 kA at 440 V is the closest published figure — that's a high-interrupting rating suitable for main or large feeder duty. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the internal clearances are built for 690 V systems without derating.
Built-in auxiliaries and release options
This MCCB ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) and two auxiliary switches (HQ type) already integrated. The UVR means the breaker will trip if the control voltage drops below a set threshold — useful for emergency-stop circuits or to prevent automatic restart after a power loss. The two auxiliary switches give you status feedback (open/closed) for the PLC or panel indication without needing an add-on module. There's no communication function and no ground-fault monitoring on this variant, so if you need those, you're looking at a different order code in the 3VA family.
Panel fit and environment
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. It's a standard MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or panel-mount installation — the 70 mm depth means it clears most shallow enclosures without a gland-plate extension. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C, so it's fine for unheated warehouses or outdoor cabinets in temperate climates. Maximum power dissipation is 21.7 W — account for that heat in your enclosure thermal calculation if you're packing several breakers side by side.