630 A MCCB with high interrupting capacity — what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2463-6HN32-0DL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 630 A continuous at 40 °C, with a breaking capacity of 242 kA at 240 V AC and 187 kA at 415 V AC. That interrupting rating means it can safely clear a bolted fault up to that level without the arc re-striking or the case rupturing — critical for high-fault locations like a main service entrance or a transformer secondary where available fault current is high. The 630 A frame is designed for line protection, so it's the primary overcurrent device on a feeder, not a branch breaker. It carries an undervoltage release (UVR) as standard, which drops the trip mechanism if control voltage falls below the dropout threshold — useful for coordinated shutdown sequences or safety circuits that need a loss-of-voltage trip.
Thermal derating — don't size by the 40 °C number alone
The 630 A rating holds at 40 °C ambient. In a warm enclosure — say 50 °C — the continuous current drops to 593 A; at 60 °C it's 557 A; at 70 °C it's 520 A. If your panel ambient runs above 40 °C, size the breaker for the derated figure, not the nameplate. The maximum power loss is 164.5 W, which contributes to the enclosure heat load — account for it in your thermal calculation.
Auxiliary switch complement and release configuration
This variant ships with two auxiliary switches, one trip alarm switch, and one electrical alarm switch (HQ type), plus the undervoltage release. That's enough auxiliary contacts for status feedback to a PLC or SCADA — trip indication, breaker position, and UVR state. The UVR is a separate release coil; if your control scheme doesn't need a loss-of-voltage trip, the 3VA2463-6HN32-0AA0 base switch (without the UVR) is the same frame without that release. The auxiliary switch design is factory-configured; field-add-on modules are possible but verify the slot count against the installed complement.
Dimensions and panel fit
The breaker measures 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, and 110 mm deep. That depth is the body only — add clearance for the handle throw and rear terminals. The 138 mm width is a 3-pole frame; a 4-pole version would be wider. Mounting is via the rear panel or a DIN-rail adapter; the SENTRON 3VA series uses a common footprint for the frame size, so a panel cutout for a 630 A 3VA breaker should accept this unit without re-drilling if the mounting pattern matches.