What this breaker is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2010-7HM36-0AA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 100 A continuous current, designed specifically for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or main distribution point, not on a motor or load that needs its own overload relay. The 100 A rating holds flat across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C, so you don't lose capacity in a warm enclosure. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, giving you headroom on 480 V and 600 V class systems.
Breaking capacity — what the numbers mean for your fault duty
The interrupting ratings are given at specific system voltages, and the spread tells you where this breaker belongs. At 240 V it clears 330 kA — that's a very high interrupting rating for an MCCB this size, suitable for large transformer secondaries or high-fault industrial feeds. At 415 V and 440 V it holds 242 kA, at 500 V it drops to 187 kA, and at 690 V it's 3 kA. The steep drop at 690 V means this is not a 690 V main breaker; it's optimized for the 240–500 V range where most industrial distribution lives.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 181 mm high, 105 mm wide, 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most Siemens SENTRON panelboards and distribution blocks. The 86 mm depth (3.39 in) means it clears shallow backpan enclosures without forcing a deeper can. No undervoltage release or shunt trip fitted from the factory, so if you need UVR or communication, you're adding accessories.
Ground-fault monitoring and temperature limits
The breaker includes summation current formation on the L-conductor for ground-fault monitoring — it can detect residual current by summing the phase currents, which is useful for systems that need ground-fault indication without a separate GFCI module. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss at rated current is 7.7 W, which is modest for a 100 A frame and keeps enclosure heating manageable.