The Siemens 3VA2040-6KP36-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, 3-pole, with a rated continuous current Iu of 40 A across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling. Its interrupting capacity reaches 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 3 kA at 690 V — figures that place it in the high-fault-current class for industrial distribution panels where upstream transformer capacity or fault current is substantial. The ETU850 electronic overcurrent release provides adjustable time-current curves: tr from 0.5 s to 25 s, tsd up to 0.5 s, giving the commissioning engineer room to coordinate with downstream breakers without nuisance tripping.
Integration and mounting
Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep — fits standard panel-mount cutouts for a 3-pole MCCB in this frame size. Front face protection is IP40, suitable for enclosed panel installation where no washdown or dust ingress is expected. Rated insulation voltage Ui of 800 V; operating temperature range from -40 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.
Key ratings and what they mean
The 40 A rating holds flat across the ambient range — no thermal derating curve to calculate, which simplifies panel design for high-ambient environments like motor control centers. The 242 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V means this breaker can safely clear a fault at that current level without rupturing — essential for installations close to large transformers or with high available fault current. Mechanical endurance of 20 000 cycles and a maximum power loss of 2.2 W per pole indicate a design suited for frequent switching applications where heat dissipation in the enclosure matters. Communication function and other measurement function are present on this variant, allowing integration with energy management systems via the SENTRON communication platform.