What this MCCB delivers — and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1096-4ED32-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection — the workhorse for feeder and branch circuits in distribution panels. Its 16 A rated continuous current (Iu) holds steady from 40 °C up to 50 °C, then derates gradually: 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. That thermal curve means you can load it to a full 16 A in a ventilated 50 °C enclosure; above that, the TM210 bimetal release tracks the ambient, so no separate derating calculation is needed — just read the row. Breaking capacity is the headline: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 690 V. At 415 V — the common European distribution voltage — 75.6 kA clears most industrial fault levels without needing an upstream current-limiting fuse. The 690 V figure (11.9 kA) is lower, so if your panel feeds a 690 V motor drive, verify the prospective short-circuit current at that point. Dimensions: 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm high. IP40 front protection.
Sourcing and lifecycle — active, quoted to order
The integrated auxiliary trip is order code 3VA9608-0BB24 — that is the undervoltage release (UVR) module that ships with the breaker. If you need a different auxiliary configuration, the base breaker accepts field-installable accessories from the 3VA family.
Integration notes — what fits and what does not
The 3VA1096-4ED32-0CC0 includes 2 auxiliary switches (HQ version) factory-fitted. No communication module, no ground-fault monitoring, no voltage-trip trigger — it is a plain line-protection MCCB with undervoltage release. If your application needs phase-failure detection or remote tripping, you will add those externally. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so it is suitable for 400/480 V systems with margin. The reference code per DIN EN 81346-2 is Q — switching device. Operating temperature range: -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Endurance is rated at 15 000 operations — typical for a distribution MCCB, not a motor-switching contactor.