The SENTRON 3VA2440-5MN32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 400 A at 40 °C, designed specifically for motor protection. This means it's set up to handle the inrush and overload profile of a motor load — not just a resistive heater — with phase failure detection built in so a single-phase condition doesn't cook the winding.
Interrupting capacity and what it means on site
This breaker clears 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 9 kA at 690 V. Those numbers are the maximum fault current it can safely interrupt at each voltage level — important if you're tying into a high-capacity transformer or a bus that sees stiff fault currents. The 9 kA at 690 V tells you it's not meant for 690 V primary distribution, but at 400/415 V it's well above typical panel SCCR requirements.
Thermal performance and derating
The breaker holds its full 400 A rating from 40 °C all the way up to 70 °C — no derating needed in a warm enclosure. That's a solid thermal design; many MCCBs start tapering off above 50 °C. The maximum power loss is 63.5 W, so plan ventilation if you're packing several breakers into a tight cabinet.
Auxiliaries and releases
It ships with two HQ auxiliary switches and a shunt trip (STL) release built in. The shunt trip lets you remotely trip the breaker via a control signal — handy for emergency stops or interlocking with a safety circuit. The aux switches give status feedback to a PLC or indicator lamp. No undervoltage release on this variant, so if you need UVR protection on a machine start sequence, you'd spec a different code.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep. The 138 mm width is a standard 3-pole frame size — it'll drop into most panel layouts without forcing a re-drill of the mounting plate. Depth of 110 mm keeps it clear of shallow gland plates. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.