What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2163-5MN36-0HL0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed specifically for motor protection, with phase failure detection built in. It carries a continuous current rating of 63 A across the entire 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to that temperature ceiling. The interrupting capacity is 187 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That high 187 kA figure at 240 V means it can handle very high fault currents in low-voltage distribution — typical for large transformer-fed panels or industrial switchgear where the available fault current is substantial.
Key features and deployment context
Three-pole construction with a shunt trip release (STL) and a full auxiliary switch complement: two auxiliary switches plus one trip alarm switch plus one electrical alarm switch. The shunt trip allows remote tripping from a PLC or emergency-stop circuit — useful for motor control centers where you need to kill power from a safety relay without pulling the handle. Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep — a standard SENTRON 3VA footprint that fits Siemens panelboards and distribution blocks. The 4 W maximum power loss is modest for a 63 A MCCB, meaning less heat to manage inside a sealed enclosure. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, with storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The trip indicator and voltage trigger are present; undervoltage release and ground-fault monitoring are not included on this variant.