What the ratings mean for your panel
The 3VA2110-5HN32-0BC0 is a Siemens SENTRON 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 100 A continuous current and fitted with an ETU350 electronic trip unit. The interrupting capacity tells the real story: 187 kA at 240 V and 121 kA at 415 V mean this breaker can safely clear a fault on a high-capacity transformer or a large motor starter without the arc flash escalating upstream. At 690 V the rating drops to 4.25 kA — still adequate for most 690 V distribution, but worth noting if you are feeding a high-fault industrial drive bank. The ETU350 is a microprocessor-based trip unit that provides LI (long-time and instantaneous) protection with adjustable settings. No ground-fault or phase-failure detection on this variant — it is a straight line-protection breaker, not a motor-protection or GFCI device. The undervoltage release (UVR) is built in, so if your safety circuit demands a drop-out on loss of control voltage, this breaker handles it without an external relay.
Thermal derating and endurance
The 100 A rating holds from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates 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. In a sealed, non-ventilated panel near a dryer section or a hot process line, that 85 A at 70 °C is the number to design against, not the catalogue 100 A. Mechanical endurance is rated at 20 000 operations — fine for a distribution feeder that cycles a few times a year; not a breaker you want on a frequent-switching load. Maximum power loss is 12.5 W. For a 100 A frame that is modest — the heat stays manageable inside a standard enclosure without forced ventilation, provided you respect the ambient derating curve.
Panel fit and dimensions
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the 3VA frame — it drops into a panel cutout or mounting plate designed for a 100 A SENTRON without re-drilling. The 86 mm depth includes the handle and the undervoltage release module; check clearance to the enclosure door if you are retrofitting into a shallow box.