The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-7MN36-0HC0 is a three-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in the motor protection variant, rated for a continuous current of 63 A at 40 °C ambient. Its interrupting capacity reaches 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V, and 187 kA at 500 V, making it suitable for high-fault installations like main feeders or large motor branch circuits. The ETU350M electronic trip unit provides adjustable overload and short-circuit protection, plus phase failure detection — a critical feature for three-phase motor loads where a lost phase can cause single-phasing damage.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
Rated continuous current Iu is 63 A, and it holds that rating across 40 °C to 50 °C ambient without derating. At 55 °C it derates to 60.48 A, and at 70 °C to 56.7 A — so in a hot panel (e.g., near a drive or transformer), you must account for the reduced ampacity. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, which covers 690 V line-to-line systems with margin. Breaking capacity at 690 V is 52.5 kA — still substantial, but a fraction of the 330 kA at 240 V. If your fault current at the point of installation exceeds 52.5 kA on a 690 V system, this breaker is not the right choice; step up to a higher-rated frame. The shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release allows remote tripping via a control signal — useful for emergency-stop circuits or interlocking with a fire-alarm panel. The two auxiliary switches (HQ) provide status feedback (open/closed) to a PLC or indication lamp.
Integration and mounting
The breaker occupies a 105 mm width, 181 mm height, and 86 mm depth footprint — standard for a 3VA frame size. It mounts via screw terminals or optional plug-in base; no DIN-rail clip, so panel cutout and bus-bar planning are required. The 75 W maximum power loss must be ventilated in a sealed enclosure.