The Siemens 3VA2140-6KP42-0DK0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 40 A continuous current with a maximum frame rating of 64 A, configured as a 4-pole unit for line protection duty. Its interrupting capacity reaches 242 kA at 240 V and 187 kA at 415 V, making it suitable for high-fault-current panelboards and distribution switchgear where the upstream transformer can deliver substantial short-circuit energy.
Key Ratings and What They Mean for Fit
The 40 A continuous rating holds flat across the entire ambient temperature range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating required up to the full 70 °C operating maximum. This simplifies panel thermal calculations: the breaker delivers its nameplate 40 A regardless of enclosure heat rise within that band. Breaking capacity varies significantly with line voltage: 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. For 690 V applications the available fault current must be verified against the 3.7 kA limit — this is not a general-purpose 690 V breaker for high-capacity circuits. The unit ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) and a complement of auxiliary switches: one auxiliary switch, one trip alarm switch, and one electrical alarm switch HQ. The UVR ensures the breaker trips on loss of control voltage. Communication function is built in, supporting integration with higher-level monitoring systems without an external module. The trip indicator provides local visual status of the breaker state.
Mounting and Panel Integration
Dimensions are 181 mm height, 140 mm width, and 86 mm depth. The 86 mm depth is the dimension that matters most when fitting into a shallow enclosure or when back-panel clearance is tight behind a gland plate. Width of 140 mm for a 4-pole MCCB is standard for the SENTRON 3VA2 frame; verify the mounting footprint matches the existing busbar or base plate if retrofitting. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range extends from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 4.1 W, which is negligible for enclosure thermal budgeting.