What this 200 A MCCB carries — and where the ratings matter
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1220-6EF42-0JC0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for a continuous current of 200 A, configured for line protection with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. The interrupting ratings are what decide the bus fault level it can handle: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 36 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — so at a 415 V distribution board this breaker clears a 154 kA prospective fault without needing an upstream current-limiting fuse. That's the kind of headroom that simplifies selectivity studies on a high-capacity transformer secondary.
Thermal derating and the 200 A continuous rating
The 200 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient. At 55 °C it derates to 194 A, at 60 °C to 188 A, at 65 °C to 182 A, and at 70 °C to 176 A. If the panel ambient runs above 50 °C — say a crowded enclosure near a furnace line — the actual continuous current the breaker can carry without nuisance tripping is the derated figure, not the nameplate 200 A. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, which covers 690 V line-to-line systems with margin.
Built-in trip accessories and auxiliary contacts
This variant ships with a shunt trip (STL) release for remote tripping — the auxiliary release design is a shunt trip (STL). It also includes 2 auxiliary switches HQ (high-qualified) for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator. The integrated auxiliary trip is order code 3VA9688-0BL32. There is no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no phase-failure detection, and no communication function — this is a straightforward line-protection breaker, not a power-monitoring device. IP40 on the front face means it's protected against tools and solid objects over 1 mm, but not against moisture ingress; mount it inside a panel with an IP54 or better enclosure if the environment is wet.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 158 mm high, 140 mm wide, 70 mm deep. That 70 mm depth is shallower than many MCCBs in this current class — it matters when the panel depth is tight against a backplate or a swing frame. The 140 mm width for a 4-pole breaker is standard for the SENTRON 3VA platform; it occupies the same footprint as other 4-pole 3VA breakers, so a panel laid out for a 3VA1110-5EE32-0JA0 will accept this unit without re-drilling the mounting plate or re-routing busbars. Latching endurance is rated at 15 000 operations — adequate for a distribution feeder that sees infrequent switching, but not a high-cycling load-break application.