What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2140-6HM42-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in industrial distribution panels. It's a 4-pole unit rated for 40 A continuous current, with an adjustable overcurrent trip range from 60 A minimum up to 480 A maximum — meaning you set the trip threshold to match the downstream load, not the breaker's own frame rating. The breaking capacity is what makes this breaker serious: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. At typical 400 V industrial supply, that 187 kA rating handles high-fault scenarios without cascading upstream — it's a high-interrupting-capacity (HIC) device for large switchboards or transformer secondaries. It also carries integral ground-fault monitoring via summation current formation on L + N conductor, so you get earth leakage detection without an add-on module — useful for personnel protection in wet environments or where GFCI is code-required.
Panel fit and installation
The breaker measures 181 mm high, 140 mm wide, and 86 mm deep — a 4-pole MCCB that fits standard panel cutouts for 160 A frame SENTRON units. It's a fixed-mount design, no plug-in base; you bolt it to the mounting plate and wire the line and load terminals. No communication function, no undervoltage release on this variant — it's a straight thermal-magnetic or electronic trip unit for line protection only. Power loss is rated at a maximum 1.6 W, so heat buildup in a dense panel is negligible. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. No derating needed across the full ambient range — the 40 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 70 °C.
How it compares to the 3VA2163-8HM32-0AA0
The 3VA2163-8HM32-0AA0 is a 63 A, 3-pole variant in the same SENTRON 3VA2 frame family. If your panel was laid out for that 3-pole unit, the 4-pole 3VA2140-6HM42-0AA0 will not drop in without rewiring — the neutral pole adds width (140 mm vs the 3-pole's narrower footprint) and changes the terminal arrangement. Stick with the pole count your panel was designed for unless you're reworking the bus.