630 A MCCB for line protection — what the ratings mean on the panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2463-6JQ32-0AH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated 630 A at 40 °C, sized for line protection in distribution panels. That 630 A is the continuous current at 40 °C ambient — derate it if your panel runs hotter: at 50 °C it carries 570 A, at 60 °C it carries 510 A, at 70 °C it carries 450 A. The interrupting capacity shifts with system voltage: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 9 kA at 690 V. That spread tells you this breaker is built for high-fault industrial distribution — the 242 kA at 240 V covers large step-down transformers or secondary-side faults in heavy plant.
Trip unit and protection range
The electronic trip unit is set for line protection (overload and short-circuit) with a full-scale value of 630 A and an adjustable I²t pickup range from 945 A minimum to 5 670 A maximum. That range lets you dial in the magnetic trip for cable protection or to coordinate with downstream breakers. A trip indicator is present, and the breaker includes a communication function — the 3VA family supports PROFIBUS or PROFINET via a plug-in module, so you can pull status and fault data into a control system without climbing the panel.
Auxiliary switch configuration and power loss
This variant ships with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ designation), and no undervoltage release or shunt trip. The auxiliary contacts let you wire status back to a PLC or annunciator panel. Maximum power loss at full load is 162 W — that's the heat you need to vent inside the enclosure. Dimensions are 248 mm high, 138 mm wide, 110 mm deep — a standard MCCB footprint for a 630 A frame, so it drops into most existing SENTRON or competitor switchboard cutouts without re-drilling.