New MCCBs for Increased Line Protection and Availability

The 3VA series by Siemens will renew the Sentron portfolio of molded case circuit breakers for low voltage power distribution. The new, more compact circuit breakers are available in a variety of versions up to 630 A, and represent a particularly space-saving solution.

New are the integrated metering function, a switch disconnector version, and MCCBs with a side wall mounted rotary operator. An online product configurator and twelve downloadable CAx data types, including 3D models and EPLAN macros, help facilitate the engineering of the protective devices. The 3VA series comes with over 500 accessory components for a modular configuration meeting virtually any requirement, plus more than 70 additional functions.

MCCBs protect electric lines and electric consumers, as well as entire industrial systems in buildings and industrial facilities from damage and failures by safely disconnecting the power supply in case of faults like short-circuit or overloads.

“Our new 3VA series is a highly versatile MCCB system that supports every engineering step from initial planning to running operations. Our customers find optimized solutions for any area of application, and at the same time save time and money”, explains Andreas Matthé, CEO of the Siemens business unit Low Voltage & Products.

MCCBs rank among the most important safety components in low voltage power distribution: An estimated 30 million MCCBs are installed each year around the globe in a great variety of technical environments, including large-scale residential and non-residential complexes and manufacturing facilities. MCCBs are increasingly assigned additional operational tasks, e.g. the capture of power usage data.

A Modular System for Virtually Any Requirement
The new MCCBs from the Sentron portfolio are available in the versions 3VA1 and 3VA2. Depending on size and model, the devices will be available as 1- to 4-pole versions for rated currents between 16 and 630 A, and rated voltages up to 690 V AC. 3VA1 devices come equipped with a thermal-magnetic trip unit (TMTU), and fulfill all standard requirements for line protection. Due to their particularly compact design, 3VA1 MCCBs are the perfect choice for applications in distribution boards and machine engineering. The 3VA1, measuring now only 130 x 76 x 70 mm (H x W x D), is the smallest ever Siemens MCCB, offering a switching capacity up to 70 kA. Compared with similar products, the 3VA1 will save up to 50 percent of space in switching systems, control cabinets, and distribution boards.

The 3VA2 series is designed for use in applications with higher technical requirements. In addition to an increased switching capacity of up to 150 kA, these MCCBs come with an electronic trip unit (ETU), and an integration capability for metering and communication functions, as well as excellent selectivity properties for high system availability.

Less Energy Costs
The integrated metering function of the 3VA2 (ETU850 and ETU860) molded case circuit breakers captures current, voltage, and energy values, as well as system states and more, making an external metering device a thing of the past. A communication module allows the bundling and transmission of data from up to eight devices. Data transfer, and the integration in superordinate building management or automation systems occurs via the popular bus systems Ethernet (Modbus TCP), PROFIBUS, and PROFINET. An additional display that can be mounted on the control cabinet door will show the current energy values of up to eight MCCBs. MCCBs will therefore directly contribute to higher system transparency and energy efficiency. Faults are detected early, and can be remedied faster. The capture and analysis of precise consumption data will result in an estimated average energy cost saving of five percent.
Increased Safety during Installation and Operation
The new 3VA series comes equipped with various modules (e.g. trip units, auxiliary and alarm switches), which communicate critical system states to a superordinate management system, and thus guarantee safe system operations. The comprehensive selectivity of the MCCBs ensures that only the actual system section affected by the fault will be disconnected. A complete standstill of the entire system is therefore prevented. Optional residual current devices, which can be additionally installed on MCCBs, capture all fault or residual currents, and ensure safe disconnection in case of an error.

The intuitive and ergonomic device design, combined with integrated indicators and displays, ensures a comfortable and safe operation of the MCCB. The switch position of MCCB with manual operating mechanisms is clearly visible at all times; an optional illumination kit helps support visibility in poor light conditions. Unauthorized switching is prevented with front or rear-mounted locking options.

Internal accessory modules can be installed in all model sizes. Mechanical and color coding on each module eliminates erroneous application. Modules are simply plugged into their clearly coded accessory ports and connected.

Faster Configuration: Up to 80 Percent Time Savings
An online product configurator helps in the customized configuration of each individual MCCB. All the necessary technical information for planning and configuration is available for download. Information can be flexibly compiled via the CAx download manager, and downloaded in seconds. The resulting data can be integrated in all popular configuring tools. Compared with traditional manual data search, this method will save up to 80 percent of your time. Human error during manual processing is therefore eliminated. For the very first time, all product information can be called up directly via smart phone or tablet by simply scanning the QR code printed on the device, which can be very helpful during e.g. maintenance tasks.
Contact for journalists:
Heidi Fleissner, phone: +49 941 790-2212
E-mail: heidi.fleissner@siemens.com
Heiko Jahr, phone: +49 9131 7 29 575
E-mail: heiko.jahr@siemens.com
This press release and a press picture is available at www.siemens.com/press/pi/ICLMV20140201e
For further information on 3VA MCCB, please see www.siemens.com/3VA
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The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector (Munich, Germany), with approximately 90,000 employees, focuses on sustainable and intelligent infrastructure technologies. Its offering includes products, systems and solutions for intelligent traffic management, rail-bound transportation, smart grids, power distribution, energy efficient buildings, and safety and security. The Sector comprises the divisions Building Technologies, Low and Medium Voltage, Mobility and Logistics, Rail Systems and Smart Grid.

For more information, visit www.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities

The Siemens Low and Medium Voltage Division (Erlangen, Germany) serves the entire product, system, and solutions business for reliable power distribution and supply at the low- and medium-voltage levels. The Division’s portfolio includes switchgear and busbar trunking systems, power supply solutions, distribution boards, protection, switching, measuring and monitoring devices as well as energy storage systems for the integration of renewable energy into the grid. The systems are supplemented by communications-enabled software tools that can link power distribution systems to building or industry automation systems. Low and Medium Voltage ensures the efficient supply of power for power grids, infrastructure, buildings, and industry. Additional information is available at: www.siemens.com/powerdistribution

Siemens AG
Wittelsbacherplatz 2, 80333 Munich, Germany
Communications and Government Affairs
Head: Stephan Heimbach
Infrastructure & Cities Sector
Low and Medium Voltage Division
Freyeslebenstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen

Reference number: ICLMV201402.01e