What the 160 A rating means for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-3EF36-0DH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current (Iu) — that's the current it carries without tripping under normal load. The TM240 thermal-magnetic release handles both overload (thermal curve) and short-circuit (magnetic trip) protection. At 40 °C ambient it holds the full 160 A; derate to 144 A at 70 °C if your panel runs hot. Breaking capacity scales with 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 it interrupts faults up to those levels without upstream cascading.
Panel fit and integration
The 3VA1116-3EF36-0DH0 measures 70 mm deep by 76.2 mm wide by 130 mm high — a standard MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or screw-mount panel installation. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) and auxiliary contacts (2 aux switches + 1 trip alarm switch HQ). The front face carries IP40 protection, so it's suited for enclosed panels where splash ingress isn't expected. Operating range: -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.