What the breaking capacity ratings mean for your panel
The 3VM1132-4EE36-0AA2 is a Siemens SENTRON IEC molded case circuit breaker, 3-pole, rated 32 A continuous at 40 °C through 50 °C. The headline numbers are the interrupting ratings: 121 kA at 240 V AC, 76 kA at 415 V AC, 53 kA at 440 V AC, and 11.9 kA at 500 V AC. Those are the fault currents this breaker can safely clear without welding contacts or rupturing the case — critical for selective coordination downstream of a transformer or generator bus. The 76 kA at 415 V is the figure most European industrial panels will care about; the 121 kA at 240 V matters for North American 240/120 V services or large UPS output breakers.
TM220 release — what LI means in practice
The overcurrent release is a TM220, thermal-magnetic type, with LI protective function — that's long-time (thermal) and instantaneous (magnetic) protection. No electronic trip unit, no ground-fault module, no communication. The thermal element is adjustable: overload protection Ir from 22 A to 32 A, matching the 32 A frame rating. The instantaneous pickup Ii is fixed at 10 x In, so 320 A magnetic trip. That's a standard motor-start or distribution feeder curve — the thermal handles overloads, the magnetic clears hard shorts. The switching capacity class is S, meaning the frame is rated for the higher interrupting levels listed above, not the economy class.
Integration and mounting
Front-connected box terminals on the main circuit — standard for panelboard or distribution board mounting. The rated insulation voltage is 690 V, so it's fine for 400/480 V systems with margin. IP40 on the front means it's protected against tools and wires >1 mm, but not against water ingress; mount it inside a panel. The frame size is rated up to 160 A max, so this 32 A unit has plenty of mechanical clearance inside the case for heat dissipation. Storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C; operating range -25 °C to 70 °C. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum at rated current — factor that into enclosure thermal calculations if you're packing multiple breakers in a small cabinet.