160 A MCCB with TM240 release — what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-6EF36-0HA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for a continuous current Iu of 160 A, fitted with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. That TM240 designation means the thermal trip element is fixed at 160 A (the frame rating), while the magnetic short-circuit pickup is adjustable — typical for protecting feeder cables or downstream switchgear in distribution panels. The interrupting capacity is what sets this breaker apart: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, and 75.6 kA at 440 V. At 690 V it still clears 17 kA. For a 160 A frame, those numbers indicate a high-interrupting-capacity (HIC) variant, sized for installations with high available fault current — think main service entrance or large industrial sub-distribution where the utility transformer is close. The breaker carries a shunt trip (STL) release integrated, with the auxiliary trip module order code 3VA9688-0BL30. No undervoltage release, no auxiliary contacts, no communication module. This is a straightforward line-protection breaker: trip indicator absent, phase failure detection absent. It is intended for the panel builder who needs a high-fault-rated 160 A MCCB with a shunt trip for remote tripping, and nothing else on the accessory rail.
Thermal derating and operating range
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. At 55 °C it derates to 153.6 A, at 60 °C to 150.4 A, at 65 °C to 147.2 A, and at 70 °C to 144 A. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C; the minimum is -25 °C. Storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. These are standard for a thermal-magnetic MCCB in a ventilated enclosure — the derating curve matters if the breaker sits in a non-air-conditioned electrical room or a hot machine cabinet. The IP40 rating on the front means protection against tools and small wires, but not against water ingress; this is a dry-location panel breaker, not for washdown environments.
DIN-rail panel integration
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. It mounts on a standard DIN rail in the enclosure. The 3-pole footprint at 76.2 mm wide (3 x 25.4 mm per pole) is the standard for a 160 A frame MCCB — it occupies three 25 mm module spaces on the rail. The shunt trip STL release is factory-integrated; no field-assembly of the trip unit is required. The TM240 release is non-interchangeable, so the breaker is ordered as a fixed-thermal unit. Verify that the panel depth accommodates the 70 mm body plus wiring space behind the door.