Line protection breaker with 160 A continuous rating
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-5EF32-0BH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, carrying a continuous current Iu of 160 A. The TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release handles the overload and short-circuit curve, and the breaker is fitted with an undervoltage release (UVR) plus 2 auxiliary switches and 1 trip alarm switch (HQ type). At 160 A the breaker is sized for main feeder or large motor branch protection in 400 V class distribution. The interrupting ratings climb to 187 kA at 240 V and 121 kA at 415 V — enough for high-fault utility interfaces or transformer secondaries where SCCR headroom matters. The thermal derating curve stays flat at 160 A from 40 °C through 50 °C, then drops to 153.6 A at 55 °C and 144 A at 70 °C. In a warm enclosed panel, that means the breaker's effective ampacity is the derated figure, not the nameplate 160 A.
Selectivity and coordination in a distribution panel
Mounts on a standard DIN rail or direct-panel footprint — the 76.2 mm width (3-pole) and 130 mm height fit alongside other SENTRON 3VA frame sizes in a common busbar arrangement. The IP40 front protection means it's suited for enclosed panel mounting, not open washdown areas. The UVR (undervoltage release) drops the breaker on loss of control voltage, which is typical for emergency-stop or undervoltage protection schemes. If the control circuit doesn't require that, the 3VA1116-5EF32-0BH0 has it built in — no separate module to buy, but it does add a wiring point for the release coil. No communication function, no phase-failure detection, and no ground-fault monitoring on this variant. It's a pure thermal-magnetic breaker with auxiliary status reporting via the 2 aux switches and the trip alarm switch. For a panel that needs remote trip indication, those contacts are already there.