What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1116-6EE32-0DA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) configured for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or main distribution point, not on a specific motor or load branch. It is a 3-pole unit rated 160 A continuously at 40 °C, with a TM220 thermal-magnetic release that provides fixed thermal protection against overloads and magnetic (short-circuit) protection with an adjustable trip threshold. The breaking capacity is 220 kA at 240 V AC, 154 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V — so the interrupting rating depends heavily on the system voltage you are working with. At 690 V, 17 kA is still a strong figure for an MCCB of this frame size, but it is not the 220 kA you get at 240 V; selectivity studies need to use the voltage-specific value.
Thermal derating and real-world current
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C. At 55 °C it derates to 158 A, at 60 °C to 155 A, at 65 °C to 153 A, and at 70 °C to 150 A. That is a shallow derating curve — only 10 A lost over a 30 °C rise — so in a warm panel or outdoor enclosure the breaker still carries nearly its full nameplate. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the maximum power loss at rated current is 40.5 W, which matters for enclosure thermal calculations if you are grouping several breakers.
Physical fit and panel integration
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. That 76.2 mm width is a standard 3-inch footprint for a 3-pole MCCB in this class — it matches the mounting hole pattern and bus-bar spacing of the SENTRON 3VA family. The unit includes an undervoltage release but no auxiliary contact, no communication function, and no ground-fault monitoring. If you need remote status or shunt-trip capability, you add the accessory separately. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.