What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-7MN36-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for continuous current of 63 A across its full operating temperature range from -25 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that maximum. It carries a short-circuit breaking capacity of 330 kA at 240 V AC, stepping down to 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 330 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 feeding motor control centers or large distribution boards.
Motor protection design and undervoltage release
This MCCB is explicitly designed for motor protection, with phase failure detection built in and an integrated undervoltage release (UVR). The UVR trips the breaker when supply voltage drops below a threshold — a standard requirement for preventing motor re-acceleration after a sag or outage. The time-delay range of 4 to 17 seconds (minimum to maximum) allows coordination with downstream starters or soft-starters, ensuring selectivity without nuisance tripping on temporary dips.
Panel integration and physical fit
Dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep. The 105 mm width is standard for a 3-pole MCCB in the SENTRON 3VA frame — it drops into the same footprint as other 3VA2 series breakers, so a panel originally kitted for a 3VA2163-8HM32-0AA0 will accept this unit without rewiring or bus-bar modification. The 86 mm depth keeps it within typical distribution panel clearance. Power loss is rated at 6.5 W maximum, manageable for enclosed panels without forced cooling.