SENTRON 3VA2010-5JQ32-0JC0 — 100 A MCCB with ETU560 Trip Unit
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2010-5JQ32-0JC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for a continuous current Iu of 100 A at 40 °C, with the ETU560 electronic trip unit providing adjustable protection curves for line (cable/feeder) protection. The breaker carries a 187 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V AC, dropping to 121 kA at 415/440 V, 79 kA at 500 V, and 3.4 kA at 690 V — the high-end short-circuit rating at 240 V makes this unit suitable for applications with very high available fault current, such as large transformer secondaries or main service entrances where the SCCR exceeds what a standard 65 kA or 100 kA MCCB can handle. The unit includes a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and 2 HQ auxiliary switches for status feedback, plus a communication function for integration into higher-level monitoring systems.
Breaking Capacity and Coordination — What the Ratings Mean for Your Panel
The interrupting capacity of 187 kA at 240 V AC is the headline number, but the engineer specifying this breaker into a 400 V or 480 V system needs to look at the 415/440 V rating of 121 kA and the 500 V rating of 79 kA. These are the numbers that govern coordination with downstream breakers and the upstream transformer's impedance-limited fault current. The 690 V rating drops sharply to 3.4 kA — this breaker is not intended for 690 V main service; it is a 240–500 V device with a token 690 V rating for low-fault applications only. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so the internal clearances support that higher voltage, but the arc extinction chamber is optimized for the lower voltage range. The ETU560 electronic trip unit offers adjustable long-time pickup (Ir), short-time pickup (Isd), instantaneous pickup (Ii), and ground-fault protection. The ground-fault monitoring version uses summation current formation on the L-conductor — meaning it measures vector sum of phase currents to detect leakage to ground, not a separate neutral-ground sensor. This is a line-protection variant, not a motor-protection variant, so it does not include phase-failure detection (that is handled by the upstream protection or motor starter).
Thermal Derating and Operating Envelope
The breaker is rated 100 A continuous from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above 50 °C, derating applies linearly: 96.25 A at 55 °C, 92.5 A at 60 °C, 88.75 A at 65 °C, and 85 A at 70 °C (the maximum operating temperature). If the panel ambient hits 60 °C, the breaker can only carry 92.5 A continuously without nuisance tripping. The storage temperature range is -40 °C to 80 °C, which governs handling and warehousing, not running conditions. Maximum power loss is 13.5 W — factor this into panel thermal dissipation calculations, especially in sealed enclosures.
Auxiliary Components and Communication
The breaker ships with 2 HQ auxiliary switches (form C, high-rupturing-capacity contacts) for remote status indication of the main contacts. The integrated auxiliary trip is a separate order code 3VA9688-0BL32; the basic switch (the core switching mechanism without the trip unit) is 3VA2010-5JQ32-0AA0. The communication function is present on this variant — this typically means a communication-capable ETU or an optional communication module interface, enabling integration with a BMS or SCADA system for remote monitoring and trip-event logging. The undervoltage release is not fitted on this variant; if UVR is required for your safety circuit, specify a different option or add an external undervoltage relay.