Molded Case Circuit Breaker for Line Protection
The SENTRON 3VA1096-4ED32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a rated current of 16 A across the 40 °C to 55 °C ambient range, derating to 15 A at 60 °C through 70 °C — a thermal curve that keeps the breaker in service without nuisance tripping in warm enclosures. Breaking capacity is the headline figure here: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, and 52.5 kA at 440 V. At 500 V and 690 V it still interrupts 11.9 kA. For a 16 A frame, that is high-interrupting capability — it clears fault currents that would weld a standard MCB's contacts, making it suitable for installations with high available fault current upstream of the panel.
Auxiliary Releases and Switching
This variant ships with a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and two HQ auxiliary switches. The shunt trip allows remote tripping from a pushbutton, PLC output, or safety relay — useful for emergency-stop circuits or load-shedding schemes. The two HQ switches provide status feedback (open/closed/tripped) to a control system or local indication lamp. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, which covers 480/277 V and 600 V distribution systems with margin. The 3-pole construction handles three-phase loads; no undervoltage release or ground-fault monitoring is fitted on this order code.
Physical Fit and Panel Integration
Dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, and 70 mm depth. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) matches the standard MCCB footprint for a 3-pole frame in a SENTRON panelboard or distribution board. Depth of 70 mm (2.76 in) leaves clearance for rear-connected busbars or cable ducts. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W — a figure to include in enclosure thermal calculations.