Obsolete — last-time-buy sourcing
Schneider Electric has marked the VW3A16704 as obsolete — the factory no longer builds it. This is a last-time-buy part; once the surplus channel dries up, the only option is a functional replacement that likely requires a board spin or panel rework. The part is an enclosed braking resistor, 100 Ohm, 200 W continuous power, with IP30 protection — meaning it is intended for indoor panel mounting where dust ingress is limited and no washdown is present.
The 100 Ohm value sets the peak braking torque the resistor can absorb from the DC bus during deceleration. A lower resistance draws more current and stops the motor faster; 100 Ohm is a mid-range value suited to Altivar 16 drives in the 0.75–2.2 kW range, where the duty cycle is intermittent rather than continuous. 200 W continuous power means the resistor can dissipate 200 W indefinitely — but braking events are short bursts. The real thermal limit is the energy pulse rating, which is not listed here; for a 200 W resistor, the peak energy per braking cycle is typically 10–20× the continuous rating for a few seconds, after which the element needs time to cool.
Mounting and enclosure fit
IP30 means the resistor is finger-safe but not sealed — it must be mounted inside a panel or enclosure that provides the environmental seal. The resistor is a single-unit package (1 unit per package) — no multi-pack option. It connects to the drive's braking terminals via the supplied flying leads; the wiring gauge should match the drive's braking circuit rating, typically 1.5–2.5 mm² for this power class.