What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1180-5EF32-0AC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) for line protection — the main disconnect and fault interrupter in a distribution panel, motor control center, or feeder circuit. Rated continuous current Iu is 80 A, and it holds that rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C without derating; at 55 °C it's 76.8 A, at 60 °C it's 75.2 A, at 65 °C it's 73.6 A, and at 70 °C it's 72 A — so if your panel ambient runs above 50 °C, you need to account for the drop. Breaking capacity at 240 V is 187 kA, at 415 V it's 121 kA, at 440 V it's 75.6 kA, and at 690 V it's 17 kA — that's high-interrupting capability for a compact 3-pole frame, meaning it can clear severe faults without upstream fuses having to open first. The overcurrent release is a TM240 thermal-magnetic type; adjustable response time tr max. is 1 s. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, and the operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. It carries 2 auxiliary switches (HQ type) built in — that's a pair of form-C contacts for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. Front protection is IP40, so it's splash-proof from the front but not sealed for washdown; the rest of the breaker is open to the panel environment.
Sourcing and lifecycle
This is a standard catalog item, not a special or phase-out code. It cross-references to the SENTRON 3VA family and is widely stocked across the supply chain.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions: 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — that's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for a 160 A frame, so it drops into most panel layouts that accept SENTRON 3VA breakers. It's a 3-pole device with no undervoltage release, no voltage trigger, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication function — it's a pure line-protection breaker, not a smart or multifunction unit. Mechanical endurance is 15,000 operations.