Siemens 3VA1116-4EF32-0HC0 — 160 A SENTRON MCCB for Line Protection
The Siemens 3VA1116-4EF32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker from the SENTRON series, designed specifically for line protection. It carries a rated current of 160 A at 40 °C, with a breaking capacity of 121 kA at 240 V AC — that figure governs its ability to safely interrupt a fault without upstream cascading. The rated insulation voltage sits at 800 V, which sets the ceiling for the system voltage it can be applied to.
Breaking Capacity and Thermal Derating
Breaking capacity drops as system voltage rises: 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. These are the values to check against the available fault current at the point of installation. The thermal rating holds at 160 A from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. If the breaker lives in a warm enclosure, use the derated figure — not the 160 A nameplate — for the continuous load calculation.
Physical Fit and Panel Integration
Dimensions are 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, and 70 mm depth. The 3-pole width of 76.2 mm (3 inches) is the standard MCCB footprint for a 160 A frame — it occupies three 25.4 mm module positions on a DIN rail or panel-mount base. The 70 mm depth means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures with room for wiring gutters. Maximum power loss is 38 W, so account for that heat in the enclosure thermal budget.
Environmental and Operating Limits
Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range extends from -40 °C to 80 °C. The storage limits govern handling and warehousing, not running conditions. No undervoltage release is fitted on this variant, and no ground-fault monitoring or communication function is included — it is a straight line-protection breaker with a shunt trip option.