What this MCCB carries and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA2163-5HN32-0HL0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 63 A continuous at 40 °C, with a 3-pole configuration and a line protection design. Its interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 VAC — that's the figure that governs fault clearing on high-available-fault panels like main switchboards or transformer secondaries — and still delivers 121 kA at 415 VAC and 75.6 kA at 500 VAC, dropping to 3.7 kA at 690 VAC, so it stays selective with downstream breakers across common industrial voltages. The 63 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 70 °C, meaning no derating headache in a warm enclosure. It ships with a shunt trip release (STL) and a configurable auxiliary switch block: 2 auxiliary switches + 1 trip alarm switch + 1 electrical alarm switch HQ, which covers remote status feedback without an add-on module. The power loss is 4 W max, negligible for panel thermal budgeting. Dimensions are 105 mm wide × 181 mm high × 86 mm deep — a standard SENTRON 3VA2 footprint that drops into existing 3VA2 panel cutouts without rewiring.
How the ratings govern your panel decision
The 187 kA at 240 V is the headline interrupting rating — it tells you this MCCB can safely clear a fault up to that level without welding contacts or venting arc gas, which is critical for upstream main breakers in high-capacity distribution. The 63 A continuous rating is thermally stable across 40–70 °C, so if your panel runs hot at 60 °C, you still get full 63 A — no need to oversize. The shunt trip (STL) allows remote tripping via a control signal, useful for emergency-stop circuits or undervoltage protection schemes. The auxiliary switch block gives 2 form-C contacts for status, plus dedicated trip and electrical alarm contacts — enough to feed a PLC input or a remote annunciator without extra relays.
Panel integration and mounting
This MCCB mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a panel backplate via the standard 3VA2 footprint. The 105 mm width fits a 3-pole slot in a SENTRON distribution board or a custom enclosure. The 86 mm depth leaves clearance for rear-connected busbars or cable lugs. The line protection design means it's optimized for cable and busbar protection rather than motor protection — pair it with a separate overload relay for motor circuits.