What this MCCB is and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA1220-6MH32-0HC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in a starter protection version — meaning it's configured specifically for motor branch-circuit protection rather than general distribution. Rated continuous current Iu of 200 A, with a TM120M thermal-magnetic release that handles overload and short-circuit in one unit. The 3-pole frame carries a 220 kA breaking capacity at 240 V, stepping down to 154 kA at 415 V, 36 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — so it's sized for high-fault industrial panels where the available short-circuit current is substantial. This is the MCCB you'd find on the line side of a motor starter combination, not a feeder breaker in a lighting panel. The breaker includes a shunt trip release (STL) for remote tripping and two auxiliary switches HQ for status feedback to a PLC or safety relay. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module — this is a straightforward electromechanical MCCB with a wired trip coil. The shunt trip is listed as 3VA9688-0BL30, so if you're replacing one in a panel, that's the release module to verify against your existing wiring.
Thermal derating and ambient conditions
Rated continuous current holds at 200 A from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above that, it derates: 192 A at 55 °C, 188 A at 60 °C, 184 A at 65 °C, and 180 A at 70 °C. If your panel internal ambient runs hot — say, a packed enclosure with drives — the 70 °C figure is the one to use for sizing. Operating range is -25 °C to +70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to +80 °C. Front IP40 means it's protected against tools and wires >1 mm, but not against water ingress — keep it inside a rated enclosure.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 158 mm high, 70 mm deep. That 70 mm depth is the body only — add clearance for the shunt trip wiring and the auxiliary switch terminals on the side. The 105 mm width is the 3-pole frame footprint; if you're swapping into an existing panel that was laid out for a 3VA1110 frame (100 A class), check the bus-bar spacing and mounting hole pattern — the 200 A frame is physically larger and may not drop in without drilling new holes or replacing the bus stack.
Key ratings at a glance
Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so it's suitable for 690 V systems with margin. Operating power at AC-3 duty (motor switching) at 400 V is 75 W — that's the switching load, not the motor power. The TM120M release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type; no electronic adjustment or communication. Latching endurance is 15,000 operations — adequate for a main disconnecting means or infrequent motor switching, not for a frequent-start application.