What this MCCB carries — and what it doesn't
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-6HN36-0CL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 63 A continuous current across the full 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating curve to chase up to that ceiling. That flat thermal performance matters when the breaker sits in a crowded, hot panel near crusher drives or conveyor starters. The interrupting ratings climb to 242 kA at 240 V and still hold 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then drop to 121 kA at 500 V and 3.7 kA at 690 V (–). At 690 V the 3.7 kA figure is the ceiling; if your fault current at that voltage exceeds it, this breaker is not the right choice. The design targets line protection, not motor or generator protection — it's built for feeder and distribution duty, not for direct motor starting. An undervoltage release (UVR) is integrated, and the auxiliary switch complement includes two auxiliary switches plus one trip alarm and one electrical alarm switch. The base switch core is order code 3VA2163-6HN36-0AA0.
Panel fit — dimensions and mounting
The breaker measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. It mounts into a standard SENTRON 3VA panel footprint — no special adapter plate needed. The width governs multi-breaker spacing in a distribution board; at 105 mm per pole set, three of these fill a 315 mm section. Depth at 86 mm leaves room for rear busbar connections without forcing a deeper enclosure.
What the ratings mean for the panel
The 63 A continuous rating is flat from 40 °C to 70 °C (–) — no thermal derating to calculate for high-ambient environments like a motor control center near a furnace or in a tropical climate. The 242 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V is high enough for most secondary substations; the 187 kA at 415 V covers European 400 V distribution. At 690 V the 3.7 kA limit means this breaker is not suited for high-fault 690 V systems — that's where a higher-rated SENTRON variant would be needed. The power loss is 6.5 W maximum, low enough that ventilation requirements in the enclosure are minimal. The undervoltage release (UVR) automatically trips the breaker if the control voltage drops, which is standard for safety circuits that need to drop power on loss of control supply.