Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-6EF36-0JA0 — 160 A MCCB with TM240 Release
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1116-6EF36-0JA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for a continuous current of 160 A, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release provides fixed trip curves for overload and short-circuit protection without the need for external trip units. The interrupting capacity reaches 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, and 75.6 kA at 440 V — figures that govern its suitability for high-fault installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. The 70 mm depth and 76.2 mm width fit standard Siemens SENTRON panel footprints, so it drops into existing 3VA busbar systems without re-drilling gland plates. The IP40 front protection means it is suited for enclosed panel mounting, not open washdown environments.
Key Ratings and What They Mean for Your Panel
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, 147.2 A at 65 °C, and 144 A at 70 °C. That means in a warm enclosure — say a steel panel in a foundry or near a furnace — you lose about 10 % of capacity at the top of the operating range. Plan your load margin accordingly. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic design. No interchangeable trip units, no field-adjustable long-time or short-time pickup. That simplifies ordering and reduces the chance of mis-configuration, but it also means the breaker is dedicated to its 160 A frame. If your load changes, you swap the whole MCCB, not just the trip. The shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release is built in — order code 3VA9688-0BL32 for the integrated auxiliary trip. No undervoltage release, no ground fault monitoring, no phase failure detection. If you need remote tripping via a PLC or E-stop circuit, the shunt trip covers that; if you need undervoltage protection, you add an external UVR module.