Siemens 3VA1220-6MH32-0AE0 — 200 A MCCB for motor and feeder protection
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1220-6MH32-0AE0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 200 A continuous current (Iu) with a TM120M thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Its 220 kA breaking capacity at 240 V means it can safely interrupt very high fault currents at that voltage level — useful where the available fault current at the panel is high. At 415 V it still handles 154 kA, and at 690 V it's rated for 17 kA. This is the starter protection version (product version field), so it's set up for motor branch circuit protection — the TM120M release is a thermal-magnetic type tuned for motor starting inrush without nuisance tripping. The 75 W operating power at AC-3 duty at 400 V confirms it's sized for motor loads in that power class. Four HQ auxiliary switches come built in (4 auxiliary switches HQ), which saves adding a separate aux block for status feedback to a PLC or indicator lamp. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no ground fault monitoring — this is a straight thermal-magnetic breaker with aux contacts only.
Breaking capacity across voltage — what the numbers mean for panel design
The 220 kA at 240 V is the headline number, but the real-world rating for most industrial 400 V panels is 154 kA at 415 V. That's still very high — well above what a typical 100 kA SCCR panel needs. At 440 V it drops to 36 kA, and at 690 V it's 17 kA. If your system runs at 690 V, the 17 kA rating is the one that governs the interrupting duty. Compared to a smaller-frame SENTRON like the 3VA1010-2ED32-0JA0 (which tops out at lower current and breaking capacity), this 3VA1220 frame handles the 200 A continuous rating and the 220 kA interrupt rating — it's a physically larger unit at 105 mm wide, 158 mm tall, and 70 mm deep. The 3VA1010 won't drop into the same panel cutout without checking the mounting footprint.
Panel integration — dimensions and mounting
At 105 mm wide, 158 mm tall, and 70 mm deep, this MCCB fits standard SENTRON 3VA panel cutouts. The IP40 front protection means it's suitable for enclosed panel mounting where the front face is behind a door or cover — not for open washdown areas. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, with a storage range of -40 °C to 80 °C. The continuous current rating holds at 200 A up to 50 °C, then derates to 192 A at 55 °C, 188 A at 60 °C, 184 A at 65 °C, and 180 A at 70 °C. If the panel ambient runs hot, factor that derating into the load schedule. Latching endurance is rated at 15,000 cycles.