What the interrupting ratings mean for your fault-current study
The Siemens 3VA1116-5EE32-0JC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection — it sits upstream of downstream branch breakers, sized to clear faults before they propagate. The interrupting capacity scales with system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V tells you this breaker is built for high-fault-current panels — transformer secondaries or large motor control centers where available fault current can exceed 100 kA. The 690 V rating (17 kA) is the limiting case; if your system runs at 690 V, verify the SCCR at that point against your transformer nameplate.
Thermal derating — the 160 A frame doesn't hold 160 A everywhere
Rated continuous current Iu is 160 A, and it holds that rating from 40 °C through 50 °C. Above 50 °C the TM220 thermal-magnetic release begins to derate: 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 this breaker lives in a non-ventilated enclosure near other heat sources, the 70 °C figure (144 A) is the one to size against — not the nameplate 160 A. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so the insulation system has headroom for 690 V applications even as the thermal trip pulls back.
Auxiliary and shunt trip — wired for remote tripping, no comms
This variant ships with 2 auxiliary switches (HQ type) and a shunt trip (STL) release — the shunt trip is the voltage-trigger mechanism that lets an E-stop or remote relay open the breaker. The auxiliary switches give status feedback (open/closed/tripped) to a PLC or annunciator. There is no undervoltage release, no phase-failure detection, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication module. If you need remote monitoring beyond dry contacts, this is not the version; the frame accepts the 3VA9688-0BL32 integrated auxiliary trip module, but that adds a trip coil, not a fieldbus gateway.
Panel fit — dimensions and IP40 front
Width 76.2 mm, height 130 mm, depth 70 mm. The 3-pole frame mounts into a standard MCCB cutout or DIN-rail adapter (not included). IP40 on the front means the breaker face is protected against solid objects >1 mm but not against water — suitable for indoor panel installation, not washdown environments. The front is clean: no trip indicator, no LCD, just the handle and the TM220 rating plug. Operating temperature range -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range -40 °C to 80 °C.