What the ratings mean for fit
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-3EF32-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for a continuous current Iu of 160 A at 40 °C, holding that rating up to 50 °C before a gentle derating curve begins — 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, 147.2 A at 65 °C, and 144 A at 70 °C. That means for most panel environments below 50 °C, you get full 160 A capacity without headroom calculations; above that, the thermal curve is predictable and published. Breaking capacity is specified across four voltage levels: 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 10.5 kA at 690 V. The 415 V figure is the one most often checked for European 400 V distribution — 52.5 kA gives solid selectivity headroom against most upstream transformers in a standard industrial panel. The 690 V rating is lower but still covers the majority of motor-circuit fault currents on 690 V systems. The overcurrent release is a TM240 — a thermal-magnetic unit with a 240 A frame, set here for a 160 A continuous rating. The TM designation means the thermal element handles overload protection and the magnetic element handles short-circuit; no electronic adjustment, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring. This is a fixed-trip breaker for straightforward line protection where you don't need remote monitoring or adjustable curves.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, and the protection class on the front is IP40 — suitable for enclosed panel mounting where the front face is behind a door. The auxiliary contact version is 2 auxiliary switches HQ (high-qualified), and the breaker includes an undervoltage release (UVR) as standard. The integrated auxiliary trip order code is 3VA9608-0BB24, which is the specific UVR module that ships with this variant.
Panel integration and dimensions
Dimensions are 70 mm depth, 76.2 mm width, and 130 mm height — a compact 3-pole footprint that fits standard SENTRON mounting plates and busbar systems. The 76.2 mm width is exactly 3 module spaces (each 25.4 mm) on a DIN rail or panel-mount grid, so it aligns with the modular spacing used across the SENTRON family. Depth of 70 mm means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures with room for wiring and busbar connections behind the breaker. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage range -40 °C to 80 °C. The storage minimum of -40 °C is relevant for cold warehouses or unheated shipping; the operating minimum of -25 °C covers most outdoor cabinet installations in temperate climates. The latching endurance is rated at 15,000 operations — a mechanical endurance figure that indicates the breaker is designed for occasional switching, not daily load-break duty.