Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The Siemens 3VA1180-6MH32-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) with a TM120M thermal-magnetic overcurrent release, designed for starter protection — meaning it's sized to protect motor branch circuits where the breaker coordinates with a contactor and overload relay downstream. Rated 80 A continuous at 40 °C ambient, it holds that full rating through 50 °C (–), then derates to 74 A at 70 °C. That thermal curve tells you the breaker doesn't need a temperature derate in a standard 40 °C panel, but in a hot enclosure near other heat sources you lose roughly 6 A at the top of the operating range. Breaking capacity is the headline number that decides whether this breaker clears a fault without upstream damage: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 7.5 kA at 500 V and 690 V. At 240 V it handles the highest available fault current in most industrial services — a 220 kA SCCR means it can sit at the main service entrance without needing a current-limiting fuse ahead of it. Three-pole construction with a rated insulation voltage of 800 V and maximum power loss of 19.2 W — the loss figure matters for enclosure thermal calculations if you're stacking multiple breakers in a small panel.
Integration and panel fit
Dimensions: 70 mm depth, 76.2 mm width, 130 mm height. The 76.2 mm width is a standard 3-inch footprint for a 3-pole MCCB. Front IP40 protection class means it's protected against tools and small wires entering from the front, but not sealed against moisture — install in a dry enclosure or add a cover if the panel sees washdown. Operating temperature range -25 °C to 70 °C, storage range -40 °C to 80 °C. The storage minimum covers cold warehouse conditions; the operating minimum handles unheated plant floors in winter.