What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2440-6HL32-0BA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in industrial power distribution. It carries a rated current of 400 A across ambient temperatures from 40 °C to 70 °C without derating — that means it holds its full rating even in a warm enclosure, which is unusual for a breaker this size. Breaking capacity is the headline: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 9 kA at 690 V. At the common 415 V industrial level, 187 kA means it can safely clear a fault current that would vaporize a standard 50 kA-rated MCCB — you need this where the transformer is big and the cable run is short. The adjustable current range runs from 600 A minimum to 4 800 A maximum, so this breaker is sized for a main feeder or a large motor circuit, not a branch panel.
Undervoltage release and integration
This variant ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) — the auxiliary release type is specifically an undervoltage release. That means if the control voltage drops below a threshold, the breaker trips immediately. Common on safety circuits or where you want a loss-of-mains trip without a separate relay. No auxiliary switch, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication function — this is a bare line-protection breaker with UVR only. The basic switch is order code 3VA2440-6HL32-0AA0, which is the same breaker without the UVR, if you need a reference for a drop-in replacement. Dimensions: 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep. Fits standard Siemens SENTRON switchboard and panelboard mounting patterns — verify the bus-bar spacing against your existing panel cutout.
Lifecycle and sourcing
Maximum power loss is 66 W, so factor that into enclosure thermal calculations if you're grouping several breakers in a sealed panel. Storage temperature range from -40 °C to 80 °C; operating range -25 °C to 70 °C. The storage limit is for handling and warehousing, not running — the operating range is what governs in-service performance.