SENTRON 3VA1116-4EF32-0AF0 — 160 A MCCB with TM240 Release
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-4EF32-0AF0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for a continuous current Iu of 160 A, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Its breaking capacity reaches 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, and 52.5 kA at 440 V — numbers that tell you this breaker handles high-fault-current industrial feeders, not just branch circuits. The TM240 release means the thermal element is fixed at 160 A (no adjustment band), while the magnetic pickup is set at 240 A; you're not tweaking this one in the field, so the BOM spec needs to be right before ordering. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the breaker carries an IP40 protection class on the front — sealed against tools and wires over 1 mm, but not washdown. The 70 mm depth and 76.2 mm width fit standard SENTRON panel footprints; the auxiliary contact version includes one auxiliary switch plus one trip alarm switch (HQ type), so you get both a position signal and a separate fault signal without adding external relays.
Current Derating and Thermal Limits
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. Above that, it derates: 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 ambient runs above 50 °C — say, a non-ventilated enclosure next to a furnace line — the effective continuous current drops by about 10% at the top end. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Mechanical Endurance and Auxiliary Contacts
Latching endurance is rated at 15,000 operations — that's the mechanical life for the latching mechanism. The auxiliary contact configuration (1 auxiliary switch + 1 trip alarm switch HQ) means the breaker can signal its status and a separate trip condition back to a PLC or annunciator without an add-on module. No undervoltage release, no communication function, no phase failure detection — this is a straight line-protection MCCB, not a smart breaker.