What this 3VA1116-3EF36-0AD0 is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1116-3EF36-0AD0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current on a 3-pole frame, configured for line protection with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Its breaking capacity varies by system voltage: 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 10.5 kA at 690 V — so the same breaker can serve different fault-current levels depending on the supply transformer and upstream coordination. The TM240 release means the thermal element is fixed at 160 A; the magnetic pickup is non-adjustable, set for a fixed short-circuit threshold. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no ground-fault module on this variant — it's a straight thermal-magnetic MCCB for standard distribution.
Temperature derating — the real-world current you can carry
Rated continuous current holds at 160 A from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above that it steps down: 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, 147.2 A at 65 °C, and 144 A at 70 °C. If your panel internal ambient runs hot — say, near a transformer or VFD bank — the 144 A figure at 70 °C is the one to size against, not the nameplate 160 A.
Mounting and integration into the panel
The breaker occupies a 76.2 mm wide footprint (three-pole) with a depth of 70 mm and height of 130 mm. Front face carries IP40 protection — fine for a closed panel interior, but not rated for washdown or outdoor exposure without an enclosure. Three auxiliary switches (HQ type) are built in, giving you status feedback for PLC inputs or remote indication without needing an add-on module. No communication function or phase-failure detection on this order code — it's a pure distribution breaker, not a metering device.