What this MCCB brings to a panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-5HN36-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 63 A continuous current, built for line protection in distribution panels and motor control centers. It carries a breaking capacity of 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415 V AC — numbers that tell you it can handle high-fault scenarios without upstream coordination headaches. The ETU350 electronic trip unit gives you adjustable overload and short-circuit protection curves, which means you can dial in the settings to match downstream loads instead of swapping breakers. That's the kind of flexibility that saves a panel builder time during commissioning. It also includes an undervoltage release (UVR) — the integrated auxiliary trip is order code 3VA9608-0BB24 — so if your control voltage drops, this breaker opens automatically. That's a standard safety feature for motor circuits where you don't want automatic restart after a power dip.
Breaking capacity: what the numbers mean on a real line
At 240 V AC, this MCCB interrupts faults up to 187 kA. At 415 V and 440 V, it holds at 121 kA; at 500 V it drops to 79 kA; at 690 V it's 4.25 kA. That steep derate above 500 V is normal for this frame size — the arc extinction physics changes at higher voltage. For a 480 V panel (common in North America), you're looking at the 121 kA rating at 440 V, which covers most industrial service-entrance requirements.
Thermal performance in a hot enclosure
Rated continuous current is 63 A from 40 °C up to 50 °C ambient. Above that, it derates: 60.6375 A at 55 °C, 58.275 A at 60 °C, 55.9125 A at 65 °C, and 53.55 A at 70 °C. Out here in the grease, if your panel sits near hot bearings or a motor, that 70 °C figure matters — you lose nearly 10 A from the nameplate rating. Plan your load accordingly. Maximum power loss is 6.5 W, which is modest for a 63 A frame. That keeps the heat rise inside the enclosure manageable, even in a packed panel.
Physical fit and integration
Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, 86 mm deep. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the SENTRON 3VA frame. It mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the integrated mounting slots. The 86 mm depth includes the handle throw, so check clearance against the enclosure door. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. That -40 °C storage floor means it can sit in an unheated warehouse through a northern winter without damage.