What it is and where it lands
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2440-5HL32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 400 A continuous current at 40 °C, built for line protection in distribution panels and industrial switchboards. It carries a rated insulation voltage Ui of 800 V and delivers interrupting capacity up to 187 kA at 240 V (121 kA at 415/440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, 17 kA at 690 V) — numbers that define its fault-clearing muscle for high-fault applications like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers.
Ratings that drive the spec
Continuous current holds 400 A from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 384 A at 55 °C, 376 A at 60 °C, 368 A at 65 °C, and 360 A at 70 °C. That derating curve matters if the breaker sits in a hot enclosure — at 55 °C you lose 16 A of headroom. Mechanical endurance is listed at 15 000 operations, typical for a fixed-mounted MCCB in a switchboard. The ETU320 electronic trip unit handles overcurrent protection with adjustable settings. A shunt trip (STL) release is built in for remote tripping, and two HQ auxiliary switches provide status feedback to the PLC or SCADA. The basic switch part is 3VA2440-5HL32-0AA0; the integrated auxiliary trip is 3VA9688-0BL30.
Panel fit and field notes
Dimensions are 138 mm wide, 248 mm high, 110 mm deep — a 3-pole MCCB that fits standard switchboard mounting. No DIN-rail clip; these bolt directly to the panel backplate or busbar system. The 63.5 W maximum power loss at full load means the enclosure needs ventilation or a derating check if packed tight.