160 A MCCB for line protection — TM210 trip, four poles, active lifecycle
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-3ED46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 160 A at 40 °C, designed specifically for line protection in distribution panels. The TM210 thermal-magnetic trip unit provides fixed thermal and magnetic settings — no field adjustment, which simplifies specification but means the breaker must be selected for the exact load profile. Interrupting capacity runs 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, and 11.9 kA at 690 V, giving solid fault-clearing headroom across common low-voltage networks. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the breaker carries IP40 protection on the front — suitable for enclosure-mounted installation where the panel door provides the environmental seal. Power loss at rated load is 38 W, a figure worth checking against enclosure thermal rise in dense panels.
Thermal derating and interrupting capacity — what the numbers mean for the panel
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient — no derating needed in a typical ventilated enclosure. Above 50 °C the curve steps down: 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. If the panel ambient runs above 50 °C, size the breaker for the derated value, not the nameplate 160 A. Interrupting capacity drops with system voltage as expected. At 415 V (common 3-phase distribution in Europe and Asia) the breaker clears 52.5 kA symmetrically. At 500 V and 690 V it holds at 11.9 kA — adequate for most industrial motor-control centers but verify against the available fault current at the point of installation.
Dimensions and panel fit
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 101.6 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. The 4-pole width (101.6 mm) is standard for this frame size; verify the existing panel cutout and busbar spacing if retrofitting into an enclosure originally wired for a different MCCB family.