What this MCCB carries — and where it sits in the panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2340-6KP32-0AF0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 400 A continuous at 40 °C, with an adjustable trip range from 600 A up to 4000 A — that's a 6.7:1 span that lets you dial in the overload protection without swapping the breaker frame. Breaking capacity hits 242 kA at 240 V, drops to 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 121 kA at 500 V, and 7.5 kA at 690 V. That 242 kA figure at 240 V means it can interrupt a fault current that would vaporize a standard industrial panelboard — this is a high-interrupting-capacity frame sized for transformer secondaries or large motor control centers where available fault current runs high. Thermal derating is published: full 400 A holds through 50 °C, then steps down to 375 A at 55 °C, 350 A at 60 °C, 325 A at 65 °C, and 300 A at 70 °C. If your panel ambient runs above 50 °C, the continuous current you can pull is the derated value, not the nameplate — plan your load accordingly. The breaker includes communication and other measurement functions, meaning it can report status and metering data upstream — useful for a plant-floor energy monitoring scheme or a predictive-maintenance dashboard. The auxiliary switch configuration is 1 auxiliary switch plus 1 trip alarm switch HQ, giving you a separate signal for trip events versus normal open/close.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions: 248 mm height, 138 mm width, 110 mm depth. That 138 mm width is the 3-pole frame footprint — verify your existing busbar spacing and enclosure depth before cutting gland plates. The 110 mm depth means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures, but check the handle throw arc if you're mounting close to the door. Power loss is 96 W maximum at rated load. That's a non-trivial heat source inside a sealed enclosure — account for it in your thermal calculation, especially if the panel also carries drives or transformers. At 70 °C max operating ambient and -25 °C minimum, the breaker covers most indoor industrial environments; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.