The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1096-4ED32-0BH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 16 A continuous current at up to 50 °C ambient, with a TM210 thermal-magnetic release configured for line protection. Its headline interrupting capacity is 121 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 75.6 kA at 415 V and 52.5 kA at 440 V — numbers that tell you this breaker is sized for high-fault industrial panels, not light commercial distribution. The 16 A rating holds flat through 50 °C; above that it derates to 15.36 A at 55 °C and 14.4 A at 70 °C, so if your panel runs hot, size the load accordingly.
What the ratings mean for fit
The 121 kA at 240 V is the maximum short-circuit current this MCCB can safely interrupt at that voltage — a figure that governs whether it holds under fault without welding contacts or rupturing the case. At 415 V (common European industrial supply) the 75.6 kA still covers most transformer-fed panels. The TM210 release means the thermal element handles overloads and the magnetic element handles short-circuits; it is a fixed-trip design, not electronic, so there is no field-adjustable curve. The undervoltage release (UVR) is built in — if control voltage drops, the breaker trips, which is standard for emergency-stop or safety-related disconnects. The auxiliary contact configuration is 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ type), giving you three dry contacts for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator.
Panel integration
Mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-mounted in a panel. Dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth — the width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint (roughly 3 x 25.4 mm per pole), so it fits existing cutouts for most 3-pole frames in this amp class. Front protection is IP40, meaning tools or fingers won't reach live parts but the unit is not sealed against dust ingress; keep it inside a panel enclosure. The 800 V rated insulation voltage (Ui) means it can be used on 690 V systems with adequate clearance — the interrupting capacity at 690 V is 11.9 kA, so verify the available fault current at that voltage.