What this 3VA1 breaker delivers
The Siemens 3VA1116-4ED26-0AC0 is a 2-pole IEC frame 160 molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous, with a 36 kA interrupting capacity at 415 V AC (breaking capacity class S). That Icu figure means it can safely clear a bolted fault up to 36 kA without welding its contacts or rupturing the arc chamber — a critical spec for panel builders sizing upstream protection on a distribution board or motor control center. Overload protection is fixed at Ir = 160 A via the TM210 thermal-magnetic trip unit; short-circuit pickup is fixed at Ii = 10 × In (1600 A). No field-adjustable dials on the trip curve — what you order is what protects the feeder. The clamp connection terminals accept standard copper busbar or cable lugs, which simplifies panel wiring compared to screw-clamp alternatives.
Panel integration note
The 3VA1 frame 160 mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the standard screw-fixing points. At 160 A fixed Ir, consider the thermal derating when packing multiple breakers into a closed enclosure — Siemens publishes a derating curve for the 3VA1 series that accounts for ambient temperature and adjacent-device heat rise. The integrated auxiliary switch changeover (2 × changeover contacts) is wired at the factory, so no add-on module is needed for remote status feedback.