What this MCCB carries — and what it doesn't
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1180-6EF36-0BC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 80 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a breaking capacity of 220 kA at 240 VAC — that's the headline number for fault clearing on a high-available-fault-current bus, like a main or tie breaker in a large distribution panel. At 415 VAC it still clears 154 kA, and at 690 VAC it holds at 17 kA. The part is designed for line protection, not motor or feeder protection — no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module, no trip indicator. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) and two auxiliary switches (HQ type) factory-installed, so you're not adding those later. The insulation voltage is rated at 800 V, which covers 480/277 V and 600 V systems with headroom.
Thermal derating — where the 80 A holds and where it drops
The 80 A rating is flat from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 78 A, at 60 °C to 77 A, and at 70 °C to 74 A. That's a mild slope — only 6 A lost over a 30 °C rise — meaning the breaker runs cool and the bimetal curve stays tight. For a panel that sees 55 °C ambient (common in a packed enclosure with drives upstream), you still get 78 A continuous without nuisance tripping. The operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Panel fit — dimensions and integration
The breaker measures 130 mm tall by 76.2 mm wide by 70 mm deep. That 70 mm depth is the key number for a shallow backpanel or a door-mount enclosure — it's a compact frame for an 80 A MCCB with UVR and aux switches onboard. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) is standard for a 3-pole SENTRON 3VA frame; it clips onto the DIN rail or mounts with screws. No communication function, so no slot for a comm module — this is a straight line-protection device with a UVR trip coil.