What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2010-6HN36-0BH0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in the 3VA2 frame, rated for line protection duty. It carries a continuous current Iu of 100 A across three poles, with an ETU350 electronic trip unit that provides adjustable overload and short-circuit protection curves. Breaking capacity runs from 242 kA at 240 V down to 4 kA at 690 V — the 242 kA figure at 240 V is the headline interrupt rating, meaning this breaker can safely clear a fault of that magnitude at that voltage without welding contacts or rupturing the case. The 3VA2 frame is the compact, high-performance tier of the SENTRON MCCB family, designed for panel builders who need high interrupting capacity in a standard footprint.
Key ratings — what they mean for fit
Rated continuous current Iu is 100 A, and it holds that rating from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient without derating. Above 50 °C it steps down: 96.25 A at 55 °C, 92.5 A at 60 °C, 88.75 A at 65 °C, and 85 A at 70 °C. If your panel ambient runs hot, the 85 A floor at 70 °C is the number to design for. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V. The 690 V breaking capacity is 4 kA. The ETU350 trip unit is an electronic (not thermal-magnetic) release, which gives better accuracy and adjustable trip settings. It is configured for line protection — meaning it protects cables and busbars, not motor overloads — and has no voltage trigger or communication function.
Where it goes in the panel
The 3VA2010-6HN36-0BH0 mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-fixed to a backplate. Dimensions are 181 mm high, 105 mm wide, 86 mm deep — the 105 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most panel layouts without re-spacing busbars. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) as the auxiliary release, plus a 2 auxiliary switch + 1 trip alarm switch HQ contact block. The UVR trips the breaker when control voltage drops below a threshold — common in emergency-stop chains or undervoltage protection schemes. Maximum power loss is 16 W at rated current — a modest figure that keeps heat rise manageable in a closed panel, but worth checking against your enclosure's thermal budget if you are ganging several breakers.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
The basic switch (the breaker without auxiliaries) is order code 3VA2010-6HN36-0AA0, and the integrated auxiliary trip module is 3VA9608-0BB11. If you are stocking spares, those sub-assemblies are the service-level components.