Rated Continuous Current 160 A — Where It Holds and Where It Doesn't
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-4EF36-0AB0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 160 A continuous current (Iu) from 40 °C through 50 °C. Above 55 °C 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 hits 60 °C, that 160 A label effectively becomes 150 A — size the upstream conductor accordingly.
Breaking Capacity — What It Can Clear
The interrupting rating varies sharply with system voltage: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 690 V. For a 480 V panel, the 52.5 kA figure at 440 V is the closest reference — plan your available fault current below that for a coordinated installation.
Trip Unit and Auxiliaries
This MCCB ships with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — fixed thermal, magnetic adjustable via the dial. It includes two auxiliary switches (HP type) for status feedback to a PLC or indicator lamp. There is no trip indicator, undervoltage release, ground-fault monitoring, phase-failure detection, or communication module on this variant. If you need those, look at the 3VA1 with electronic trip or the plug-in accessory stack.
Panel Fit — Dimensions and Environment
Footprint is 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — standard SENTRON 3VA1 form factor, so it drops into the same DIN rail or mounting plate cutout as other 160 A frames. Front IP40, so it is fine for a clean indoor panel but not for washdown areas. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.