MCCB for motor branch protection — 63 A frame, 330 kA SCCR at 240 V
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2163-7MS32-0DL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in the 3VA2 frame, designed specifically for starter protection — meaning it coordinates with a contactor and overload relay to clear bolted faults before the downstream starter takes damage. Rated 63 A continuous at ambient temperatures from 40 °C through 70 °C without derating (–), it holds the full frame rating across the typical panel ambient range. The adjustable thermal-magnetic trip covers 189 A minimum to 945 A maximum, which sets the short-circuit and overload pickup — this is the figure you set during commissioning to match the motor FLA and cable ampacity, not the 63 A frame rating.
Interrupting capacity — the voltage-dependent curve
Breaking capacity follows the voltage: 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 3.7 kA at 690 V is the weak point — if your panel feeds a 690 V motor branch with a prospective fault current above 3.7 kA, this breaker will not hold. At the common 400/415 V distribution level, 242 kA covers nearly any industrial installation. The SCCR is the number the panel builder stamps on the nameplate; this breaker lets you claim high fault ratings at 240–500 V without a current-limiting fuse upstream.
Auxiliary and alarm switch complement
The factory-fitted switch block carries 2 auxiliary switches (for status feedback to a PLC or indicator lamp), 1 trip alarm switch (fires on a fault trip, not manual open), and 1 electrical alarm switch. That is four discrete signals from one breaker — enough for a motor control center (MCC) bucket without adding external relay logic. The undervoltage release (UVR) is included; it drops the breaker when control voltage falls below the dropout threshold, standard for safety circuits that need a loss-of-voltage trip.
Dimensions and panel fit
Footprint is 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall by 86 mm deep. That 86 mm depth is the projection from the mounting surface — important when fitting into a shallow MCC bucket or a wall-mount enclosure with a door-mounted operator. The 105 mm width is standard for a 3-pole 3VA2 frame; it occupies three 35 mm DIN-rail modules worth of space if panel-mounted, though these breakers typically bolt directly to a backplate in an MCC lineup.