What this MCCB is and what it protects
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-5MN36-0AC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) specifically designed for motor protection, with phase failure detection built in. 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 sizing for warm enclosures. The interrupting ratings tell the real story: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at both 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 690 V figure is the one to watch — if your system runs at 690 V line-to-line, this breaker is not your high-fault option. At the common 400–480 V industrial range, though, it has headroom for most transformer-fed installations. It ships with 2 auxiliary switches (HQ type) and the supplied basic switch is order code 3VA21635MN360AA0. Maximum power loss is 4 W, so heat buildup in a dense panel is manageable.
Panel fit and dimensions
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or panel-mount installation. The 86 mm depth means it clears most shallow enclosures, but verify the door clearance if you are mounting it with rotary handle extensions.
What the ratings mean for your coordination study
The 63 A frame is rated for motor protection, so the thermal-magnetic or electronic trip curve is tailored for motor inrush — not for general distribution where you might want a higher short-time delay. Phase failure detection is integrated, which means it will trip on loss of one phase, protecting the motor from single-phasing. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication function on this variant.