MCCB for motor protection — what the ratings mean for fit
The Siemens 3VA2163-5MN36-0KL0 is a 3-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed specifically for motor protection, with phase failure detection built in. Rated at 63 A continuously from 40 °C through 70 °C (no derating needed across that band), it handles the full-load current of a motor branch without nuisance tripping on warm panel days. Breaking 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 187 kA figure at 240 V means this breaker can safely interrupt a fault up to that level without cascading upstream — critical for high-fault panels near large transformers. The steep drop at 690 V (3.7 kA) tells you this is not a 690 V-primary part; it belongs on a 240–500 V distribution side. The auxiliary switch complement (2 auxiliary + 1 trip alarm + 1 electrical alarm switch HQ) and the included shunt trip (STL) release give you remote trip capability and status feedback — useful for a safety circuit or PLC-driven isolation sequence. No undervoltage release or communication module on this variant; those would be separate order codes.
Panel integration — dimensions and mounting
At 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep, the 3VA2163-5MN36-0KL0 fits a standard MCCB footprint on a DIN rail or bolted to a backplate. The 86 mm depth is the dimension that matters for gland-plate clearance and door swing — measure that against your enclosure depth before committing the cutout. Maximum power loss is 4 W, so thermal rise inside a sealed enclosure is minimal — no forced cooling required for a single unit, but account for cumulative heat if multiple breakers are ganged.