What this MCCB does on the line
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1180-4EF36-0AA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 80 A continuous current at 40 °C ambient, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release designed for line protection in distribution panels and motor control centers. Its interrupting capacity hits 121 kA at 240 V AC and still delivers 75.6 kA at 415 V — enough to handle high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries without cascading upstream breakers. The 800 V rated insulation voltage means it's comfortable in 480 V and 600 V class systems, and the 70 mm depth fits standard MCCB mounting footprints in SENTRON panelboards.
Thermal derating — the real current rating at your panel ambient
The 80 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient, which covers most ventilated electrical rooms. At 55 °C it drops to 78 A, at 65 °C to 75 A, and at the 70 °C maximum operating temperature it still carries 74 A. That thermal curve means you don't lose headroom in a warm panel unless you're pushing the upper limit of the enclosure's dissipation. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic design — no interchangeable trip units, so the breaker's ampacity is set at the factory.
Interrupting ratings by system voltage
This breaker's interrupting capacity varies with the available fault current at the point of installation. At 240 V it clears 121 kA symmetrical; at 415 V it handles 75.6 kA; at 440 V it's rated for 52.5 kA; and at 500 V and 690 V it manages 11.9 kA. The 800 A maximum and 400 A minimum frame ratings bracket the 80 A continuous trip — the frame itself is rated for the full interrupting duty, so you aren't frame-limited at the lower trip setting.
Panel fit and mounting
Dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width (3 inches — standard MCCB pole spacing), and 70 mm depth. The 3-pole block mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a panel backplate using the SENTRON mounting base. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no communication module — it's a straight thermal-magnetic line protection breaker with no auxiliary functions to wire.