MCCB for high-fault panels
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-5EE46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated 160 A at 40 °C, built for line protection in distribution panels where fault currents can reach 187 kA at 240 V. That interrupting rating means it clears a bolted fault at that level without the arc flashing over to adjacent buswork — critical for switchboards fed by large transformers. The TM220 thermal-magnetic release provides fixed overload and short-circuit protection; no voltage-trip or ground-fault module on this variant, so keep those external if the application requires them.
Interrupting capacity across voltages
This breaker's interrupting rating drops as system voltage rises: 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. The steep fall above 440 V means it is sized for 400 V class panels — at 690 V the 17 kA rating still covers most industrial motor-control-center fault levels, but verify the available fault current at the point of installation. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the internal clearances handle that 690 V application without derating the dielectric.
Current derating with ambient temperature
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C, then begins to taper: 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. If the panel ambient runs above 50 °C — common in enclosed MCCs near furnaces or in tropical enclosures — the continuous current must be reduced by that curve. Maximum power loss is 38 W, which factors into the enclosure ventilation calculation.
Panel fit and environmental limits
The breaker measures 101.6 mm wide, 130 mm high, and 70 mm deep — a standard 4-pole MCCB footprint that fits most DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures without re-drilling. Front face carries IP40 protection, so it is suited for general-purpose indoor panels but not washdown zones. Operating range spans -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C covers unheated warehouses. No trip indicator or undervoltage release on this order code, so fault diagnostics rely on external indication.