What this breaker is and what the ratings mean
The Siemens 3VA1116-3EF36-0BH0 is a 3-pole IEC frame 160 molded-case circuit breaker with a 25 kA breaking capacity at 415 V (class N). That 25 kA rating means it can safely interrupt a fault current up to that level without welding contacts or rupturing the arc chamber — critical for protecting downstream feeders and panelboard buswork in a 400 V industrial distribution system. It carries a TM240 thermal-magnetic trip unit with an adjustable overload protection band from 112 A to 160 A (Ir) and a short-circuit pickup (Ii) adjustable from 5 to 10 times the rated current In. The thermal element handles sustained overloads; the magnetic element clears hard shorts. The 160 A frame gives headroom for a 150 A continuous load without nuisance tripping on motor inrush. The built-in undervoltage release (UVR) operates on 24 V DC — if the control voltage drops, the breaker trips. That is standard for emergency-stop or safety-shutdown circuits where loss of control power must open the main feeder. Two auxiliary switches (HQ) and one trip alarm switch (HQ) provide status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel.
Where it fits in the panel
This breaker uses clamp (lug) connections, so it lands directly on busbars or cable lugs in a distribution panelboard or switchboard. The 3VA1 frame is a standard IEC form factor for DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures — it occupies the same footprint as other 160 A frame breakers in the 3VA family, making it a drop-in replacement for an existing 3VA1 unit without re-drilling the backplate.