What this MCCB carries on the line side
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-3EF36-0AB0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) built for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or main breaker position, not downstream on a motor or branch circuit. Rated 160 A continuous at 40 °C and holding that same 160 A all the way up to 50 °C (–), it handles full-rated current through warm panel ambient without derating. The thermal-magnetic TM240 release gives it a fixed thermal pickup and magnetic trip tailored for cable and busbar protection, not adjustable load curves. Breaking capacity is the number that decides whether this breaker clears a fault or welds shut. At 240 V it interrupts 75.6 kA; at 415 V that drops to 52.5 kA; at 440 V it's 32 kA; and at 500 V or 690 V it holds at 11.9 kA (–). The 75.6 kA at 240 V is a high-interrupting rating — it handles utility-level fault currents without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream. The 52.5 kA at 415 V still covers most industrial switchboard bus bracing. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the internal creepage and clearance are specced for 690 V systems.
Panel fit and auxiliaries
Footprint is 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep (–) — a standard 3-pole MCCB envelope that drops into most SENTRON panelboards and distribution blocks without re-drilling. The base switch is order code 3VA11163EF360AA0; the breaker ships with two HP auxiliary switches for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. No undervoltage release, no voltage trip, no communication module — this is a plain-vanilla line-protection breaker with basic aux contacts. Power loss at full load is 38 W, which matters for thermal coordination inside a sealed enclosure.