630 A MCCB with 242 kA at 240 V — what the ratings decide
The Siemens 3VA2463-6HN32-0AD0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 630 A continuous current, with a maximum breaking capacity of 242 kA at 240 V — that figure drops to 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 9 kA at 690 V. For a 3-pole line-protection device, the 242 kA at 240 V means it can safely interrupt a fault on a high-capacity transformer secondary without upstream fuses needing to clear first. The 630 A frame is sized for large motor circuits, main feeders, or bus couplers in industrial switchgear.
Thermal derating — the real-world current limit
The 630 A rating holds at 40 °C ambient. Above that, the continuous current must be derated: 612 A at 45 °C, 593 A at 50 °C, 575 A at 55 °C, 557 A at 60 °C, 538 A at 65 °C, and 520 A at 70 °C. If this breaker lives in a non-air-conditioned enclosure near a furnace line or in a Middle East panel room, the 520 A at 70 °C is the number to BOM against — not the 630 A nameplate. Maximum power loss is 162 W, so the enclosure ventilation must handle that thermal budget at full load.
Footprint and internal configuration
Dimensions are 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that drops into most SENTRON mounting plates and busbar systems without re-drilling. The unit ships with 3 auxiliary switches (HQ type) factory-installed; no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module. The base switch is order code 3VA2463-6HN32-0AA0, so this variant is the fully-assembled version with aux contacts ready for status feedback to a PLC.