What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1180-5EF32-0JC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in industrial distribution panels. It's a 3-pole unit rated at 80 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a massive 187 kA breaking capacity at 240 V AC — that's the short-circuit current it can safely interrupt without welding or exploding, which matters when you're protecting a transformer secondary or a bus riser where fault currents run high.
Breaking capacity across voltages — the real-world envelope
This breaker doesn't just have one interrupting rating; it's rated across multiple system voltages. At 415 V it handles 121 kA, at 440 V it's 75.6 kA, and at 500 V or 690 V it still manages 17 kA. That voltage-dependent curve tells you where it's comfortable — feed it from a 480 V transformer and the 75.6 kA at 440 V is your closest reference point; on a 600 V class system the 17 kA at 690 V is the ceiling. The insulation voltage is rated at 800 V, so the internal clearances are built for that.
Thermal derating — don't just read the 80 A label
The 80 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 50 °C, which covers most panel ambient conditions. Above that it starts to taper: 78 A at 55 °C, 77 A at 60 °C, 75 A at 65 °C, and 74 A at 70 °C. If this breaker lives in a hot enclosure next to a drive or a transformer, size your load against the derated number, not the nameplate. The operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.
Built-in accessories — shunt trip and aux switches
This variant comes factory-fitted with a shunt trip (STL) for remote tripping — useful in emergency-stop circuits or when a PLC needs to kill power to a downstream load. It also carries two auxiliary switches (HQ) for status feedback to a control system or a panel lamp. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module. If you need those, this isn't the variant; look at the 3VA1 family options with a UVR or a COM module.
Physical fit — panel footprint
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. That 3-inch (76.2 mm) width per pole is standard for SENTRON 3VA1 MCCBs in the 80 A frame size, so it drops into a 3-pole cutout without surprises. Depth of 70 mm (2.76 in) means it clears most shallow backpan enclosures — check your deadfront clearance if the panel has a door-mounted operator.