MCCB for line protection — 160 A, 3-pole, TM240 release
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-5EF32-0JA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 160 A at 40 °C, designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — the thermal element handles overloads, the magnetic element clears short-circuits. The interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 V, dropping to 121 kA at 415 V and 75.6 kA at 440 V — enough headroom for high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so it can sit on 690 V line-to-line systems without derating the insulation.
Thermal derating and ambient limits
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C. Above that, derate gradually: 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. Operating ambient range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. If the panel runs hot — say, a packed enclosure near a furnace or in a Middle East substation — factor the 55 °C derating into the load schedule. The 76.2 mm width (3 in) and 130 mm height (5.12 in) fit standard MCCB mounting footprints; depth is 70 mm (2.76 in). No trip indicator is fitted, so fault diagnosis relies on the panel's own indication or a downstream meter.
Shunt trip and auxiliary release options
This MCCB includes a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release, allowing remote tripping via a control signal — useful for emergency-stop circuits or remote load shedding. The design is line protection (not motor protection), so it lacks an undervoltage release and ground-fault monitoring. No communication function is built in; it's a standalone breaker for the main feeder or sub-feed. Power loss at rated load is 38 W maximum — negligible for panel cooling calculations but worth noting for energy-aware designs.