The 3VA2163-6HM42-0AA0: Breaking capacity is the headline here: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 242 kA figure at 240 V means it can interrupt a fault near a large transformer secondary without the arc flashing over — critical for high-fault service entrances or industrial sub-distribution. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V.
Panel Fit and Mounting
Footprint: 140 mm wide, 181 mm tall, 86 mm deep. That depth matters when you're laying out gland plates or back-panel clearance — 86 mm means it'll clear a standard 100 mm deep enclosure backplate without the rear cover bulging. Four-pole width at 140 mm is what you'd expect for a 160 A frame MCCB; plan your DIN-rail or direct-mount hole pattern accordingly. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, with no derating needed across that span — the 63 A rating holds from 40 °C all the way to 70 °C. That's unusual for an MCCB; most thermal-magnetic units start derating above 40 °C. This one doesn't, so you can pack it into a warm cabinet without upsizing the frame. Power loss is 4 W maximum — negligible for thermal budgeting in a multi-breaker panel, but worth noting if you're running a sealed enclosure with no forced ventilation.
Protection and Monitoring
This is a line-protection design — no undervoltage release, no communication module, no voltage-trip accessory built in. The ground-fault monitoring uses summation current formation on L + N conductors, so it'll detect residual current on a 4-wire system without an external core-balance CT. The adjustable thermal trip range starts at 16 A and goes to 63 A full scale. No trip indicator on the front, so you'll know it tripped only by the load dropping out or by checking the handle position. That's typical for this class — the indicator is an option you pay extra for.
Sourcing and Lifecycle
Lifecycle status is listed as current — this is not a discontinued or NRND part. It's in the active SENTRON catalog, so you can spec it into a new BOM without worrying about a last-time-buy window closing next quarter.