What this 3VA2 is — and what it isn't
The 3VA2163-7MS36-0CH0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in the starter protection variant — meaning it's built for motor branch circuits where you need coordinated overload and short-circuit protection in one package, not just a straight feeder breaker. Rated continuous current Iu is 63 A, and it holds that rating from 40 °C up through 50 °C without derating; at 55 °C it's still at 60.48 A, and at 70 °C it's 56.7 A, so the thermal headroom is generous for a 63 A frame. The ETU310M electronic trip unit handles the overcurrent release, and there's an undervoltage release (UVR) integrated — the auxiliary release design is UVR, and the supplied basic switch is order code 3VA2163-7MS36-0AA0 with an integrated auxiliary trip of 3VA9608-0BB24. This is a 3-pole unit with a trip indicator, 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ configuration). No communication function, no phase failure detection, no ground fault monitoring — this is a straightforward motor-protection MCCB, not a networked power monitor.
SCCR — what the interrupting ratings mean for panel coordination
The interrupting capacity is given across five voltage points, which is what you need for selectivity studies. At 240 V it's 330 kA; at 415 V and 440 V it's 242 kA; at 500 V it's 187 kA; at 690 V it's 52.5 kA. That 52.5 kA at 690 V is the limiting figure for most industrial installations — if your available fault current at the panel exceeds that, you need upstream current-limiting fuses or a higher-rated frame. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so the breaker itself is insulated for 800 V systems, but the interrupting rating at that voltage is what governs the SCCR of the combination. Maximum power loss is 75 W — relevant for enclosure thermal calculations if you're packing multiple breakers in a sealed panel.
Panel fit — dimensions and integration
Footprint is 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall by 86 mm deep. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB form factor for the 3VA2 frame — it mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the screw terminals. The 86 mm depth is the body only; allow additional clearance for the auxiliary switch wiring and the UVR coil connections. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Mechanical endurance is 20,000 operations — adequate for motor starting duty where the breaker isn't cycled daily as a disconnect.