SENTRON 3VA2140-7HM46-0AA0 — 40 A MCCB with Adjustable Trip and High Interrupting Capacity
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2140-7HM46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 40 A continuous current at 40 °C through 70 °C, with a thermal-magnetic trip adjustable from 60 A minimum to 480 A maximum. Its interrupting capacity reaches 330 kA at 240 V AC, 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V — figures that govern fault-clearing capability at the service-entrance or distribution point. The 800 V rated insulation voltage supports use in 480/277 V and 600 V systems with adequate margin. Designed for line protection, this MCCB sits in the main or feeder position of a panelboard or switchboard, not as a branch device.
Trip Range and Breaking Capacity — What the Ratings Mean for Panel Coordination
The 60–480 A adjustable trip range means this breaker can be set to protect a 60 A feeder or a 480 A main, but the 40 A continuous rating is the thermal limit — the frame and contacts are sized for 40 A continuous load, and the higher trip setting only applies to the magnetic (short-circuit) pickup. For a 40 A continuous load, the thermal element should be set near 40 A; the magnetic adjustment then determines the instantaneous trip threshold. The 330 kA at 240 V is the maximum fault current the breaker can safely interrupt — critical for high-available-fault installations like transformer secondaries or generator paralleling gear. The steep drop to 3.7 kA at 690 V reflects the reduced arc-quenching margin at elevated voltage; this breaker is not intended for 690 V distribution where fault currents exceed that level.
Lifecycle and Sourcing — Current Production, Quoted to Order
The lifecycle stage is marked as current, meaning Siemens continues to manufacture this order code without an announced end-of-life. For a BOM line or a panel spare, this part is sourced through independent distribution and quoted to order against an RFQ — availability and current pricing are confirmed at quote time. No official successor has been published, so the 3VA2140-7HM46-0AA0 remains the direct fit for any panel originally specified with this code.
Ground-Fault Monitoring and Environmental Limits
The ground-fault monitoring version uses summation current formation on the L + N conductor — it measures vector sum of line and neutral currents to detect leakage to ground. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 1.6 W, negligible for panel thermal budgeting. The trip indicator is not present, so no local mechanical flag shows a trip event — the breaker relies on the handle position or an external auxiliary contact (not included).