Short-circuit signaling switch for 3VA breakers
The Siemens 3VA9988-0AB32 is a SENTRON short-circuit signaling switch — a 7 mm wide accessory that mounts alongside a 3VA1 160 molded-case circuit breaker to provide remote indication when the breaker trips on a short-circuit fault. It uses a changeover contact set (type HQ) rated for AC and DC control circuits: 6 A thermal continuous current (Ith), with AC-15 switching at 3 A up to 240 V and DC-13 at 0.8 A at 24 V. The 30 mm depth and 56 mm height keep it within the standard 3VA breaker envelope, so it fits without reworking the panel layout.
The 6 A thermal current (Ith) is the continuous carry rating through the switch contacts — it's not a switching rating. For actual switching duty, use the AC-15 and DC-13 values: 3 A at 240 V AC for solenoid or contactor coils, and 0.8 A at 24 V DC for PLC digital inputs or relay loads. The impulse withstand voltage of 4 kV (rated impulse withstand) covers the surge environment typical of a 240/400 V industrial installation, so no external surge suppression is needed on the signaling circuit.
Integration with 3VA breakers
The switch clips onto the left side of a 3VA1 160 breaker (7 mm module width matches the accessory slot). No additional DIN-rail space is consumed beyond the breaker's own footprint. Wire termination: strip 15 mm (0.6 in) for the screw-clamp terminals. The switch comes with changeover contacts wired to a flying lead or terminal block depending on the variant — verify the contact arrangement matches your alarm input card.