What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2163-5HL36-0AC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in industrial power distribution. It carries a continuous current rating of 63 A across the full ambient temperature range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling, which simplifies panel layout when the breaker sits near other heat sources. Three-pole construction with an 800 V rated insulation voltage. The interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 V, drops to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V — so for a 480 V panel you're looking at roughly 75–121 kA of fault-clearing muscle depending on the exact service voltage.
Physical fit and panel integration
Footprint is 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall by 86 mm deep. That 86 mm depth is the dimension that matters when you're reaching into a backpanel against a gland plate or a rear-mounted bus — measure your enclosure depth before committing the mounting kit. No trip indicator, no undervoltage release, no communication module on this variant. The auxiliary switch design carries two HQ auxiliary switches. If you need ground-fault monitoring or a shunt trip, this isn't the order code — check the 3VA21 family for those options.
What the ratings mean for the buyer
The 63 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C to 70 °C ambient — that's a full thermal plateau, not a derating curve. It means this MCCB can sit in a warm cabinet next to drives or transformers without losing ampacity. The 187 kA at 240 V is the headline interrupting number; at typical industrial voltages (480Y/277 V) you're working with the 75.6 kA at 500 V figure, which still covers most transformer-fed fault currents below 2000 kVA. Power loss is 4 W maximum — negligible for panel thermal budgeting but worth noting if you're stacking multiple breakers in a sealed enclosure with no forced ventilation.