What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 5SL4620-7 is a 4-pole (3P+N) miniature circuit breaker rated 20 A with a C-curve trip characteristic. It breaks fault currents up to 10 kA at 400 V AC, certified to both EN 60898 and IEC 60947-2 — meaning it covers residential/infrastructure panelboards and light commercial distribution where the utility-side fault level lands at 10 kA or below. The C-curve (5–10× In magnetic trip) handles motor inrush and lighting ballast starts without nuisance trips; the 3P+N design switches the neutral pole, so it's the right fit for TN or TT systems where the neutral needs isolation.
Panel fit and physicals
Snaps onto standard DIN rail — 4 modular width units (72 mm wide), 76 mm deep, 90 mm tall. Mounting position is unrestricted, so you can lay it sideways in a shallow enclosure if the cable bend radius allows. Installation depth is 70 mm behind the panel face. The IP20 rating applies with conductors connected; keep the front cover sealed (it's sealable per spec) if the panel sees dust or casual contact. Halogen-free and silicon-free construction matters for clean-room or high-reliability environments where outgassing contaminates contacts or optics.
Electrical ratings and coordination
Rated 400 V AC phase-to-phase, with a maximum operating voltage of 440 V AC for multi-phase circuits. The 10 kA breaking capacity holds at both standards — no derating needed between EN 60898 (household) and IEC 60947-2 (industrial) at this voltage. Overvoltage category III and pollution degree 2 suit fixed-installation distribution boards. Power loss runs 2 W per pole at rated current in hot state — useful to know for thermal budgeting inside a sealed enclosure. The 10 000 mechanical operating cycles typical is fine for a distribution board; if you're switching it daily as a disconnect, watch the cycle count.