What this 3VA2440-7HL32-0DH0 is and what it carries
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2440-7HL32-0DH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) built for line protection — the main disconnect and fault interrupter in a distribution panel feeding motor control centers, industrial switchboards, or heavy-load feeders. It is rated to carry 400 A continuously across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C without derating, so it handles hot panel environments without needing a larger frame. The adjustable trip range spans 600 A minimum to 4 800 A maximum, giving the commissioning engineer flexibility to set the instantaneous pickup to match cable or busway ampacity without swapping breaker frames. Interrupting capacity is what separates this MCCB from a standard thermal-magnetic: at 240 V it clears 330 kA, at 415 V and 440 V it clears 242 kA, at 500 V it clears 187 kA, and at 690 V it clears 9 kA. That 330 kA figure at 240 V tells you it is designed for high-fault locations — transformer secondaries or large bus risers where prospective short-circuit current is substantial. The drop to 9 kA at 690 V is normal for this voltage class; the breaker is not intended for 690 V high-fault service.
Built-in auxiliary and undervoltage release
This variant ships with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ designation) and an undervoltage release (UVR) factory-installed. The auxiliary contacts report breaker position (open/closed) to a PLC or status lamp; the trip alarm switch signals a fault trip distinct from manual opening. The undervoltage release drops the breaker if control voltage falls below its dropout threshold — common on safety circuits or emergency-stop chains where loss of control power must open the main feeder. The basic switch order code is 3VA2440-7HL32-0AA0, which is the raw breaker without auxiliaries; this -0DH0 suffix adds the aux switch block and UVR.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 248 mm tall, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep. That 138 mm width (5.43 inches) is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this SENTRON frame size; it occupies three adjacent 45 mm module positions on a DIN rail or mounts to a backplate with the factory-supplied screws. The 110 mm depth (4.33 inches) leaves clearance behind a standard 200 mm deep enclosure. Maximum power loss is 66 W at rated current — account for that heat in the panel thermal budget if the breaker is enclosed without forced ventilation.
Environmental limits and storage
Operating temperature range is -25 °C to +70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to +80 °C. The storage minimum is the handling limit — the breaker can sit in a cold warehouse or truck without damage, but it must be above -25 °C before energizing. No ground-fault monitoring version is included (that would be a different suffix). No communication function is built in; this is a standalone electromechanical MCCB, not a smart breaker with integrated metering or networking.