What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1096-3ED32-0BC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) for line protection in distribution panels. It's a 3-pole unit rated for 16 A continuous current (Iu) at 40 °C, with a TM210 thermal-magnetic release that handles overloads and short circuits without external electronics. Breaking capacity is 75.6 kA at 240 V AC, 52.5 kA at 415 V AC, 32 kA at 440 V AC, and 7.5 kA at 690 V AC — so at typical 400 V class panel voltages it clears fault currents up to 52.5 kA without upstream fuses. That's enough for most industrial main or feeder duty where the transformer is sized under 2 MVA. Dimensions are 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm high — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits SENTRON mounting plates and most DIN-rail adapters. Front protection is IP40, meaning it's splash-proof from the front but not sealed against dust ingress from the sides or rear.
Built-in auxiliary and undervoltage release
This breaker ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) fitted as standard — part of the design of the auxiliary release. That means if control voltage drops below the dropout threshold, the breaker trips automatically, which is a common requirement for safety circuits or emergency-stop chains where loss of control power must open the load. It also carries two auxiliary switches (HQ type) for remote status indication — one normally open, one normally closed. These are wired back to a PLC input or panel lamp to signal whether the breaker is closed or tripped. The integrated auxiliary trip order code for replacement is 3VA9608-0BB11.
Thermal derating and operating limits
Rated continuous current holds at 16 A from 40 °C up to 50 °C. Above that it derates: 15.36 A at 55 °C, 15.04 A at 60 °C, 14.72 A at 65 °C, and 14.4 A at 70 °C. The maximum operating ambient is 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. If the panel runs hot — say near a furnace line or in a sealed enclosure — factor the derating into the load schedule. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, which covers 480 V and 600 V class systems with headroom. No ground-fault monitoring or communication function is built in — this is a straight thermal-magnetic breaker, not a smart trip unit.
Lifecycle and sourcing
The lifecycle stage for this order code is listed as current — meaning Siemens still manufactures it as an active catalog item. No phase-out or last-time-buy notice is attached to this variant. For a BOM freeze or long-term project, this is a stable line to specify.