SENTRON 3VA1116-6FE42-0AA0 — 80 A MCCB for Line Protection
The Siemens 3VA1116-6FE42-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 80 A continuous, built on a 4-pole frame with a TM220 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It is designed for line protection — the default role for this class: guarding feeder cables and distribution buswork against overload and short-circuit faults in a main or submain panel. The interrupting ratings span the common industrial voltage bands: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. At 415 V — the most common three-phase distribution voltage in much of the world — the 154 kA SCCR gives substantial headroom for high-fault-current installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. The TM220 release is a thermal-magnetic type: the thermal element handles overload protection with a time-delay characteristic, while the magnetic element provides instantaneous short-circuit response. No undervoltage release, no voltage-trigger accessory, and no ground-fault monitoring are fitted on this variant — it is a straight line-protection breaker.
Thermal Derating and Panel Integration
At 40 °C ambient the breaker carries its full 160 A frame rating; the derating curve holds flat through 50 °C, then drops to 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. The 80 A continuous rating of this specific variant is well within the frame's thermal headroom, so in a 40 °C panel the breaker runs cool — the limiting factor will be the connected cable ampacity, not the device. Dimensions are 70 mm deep by 101.6 mm wide by 130 mm tall — a standard MCCB footprint that mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate. The IP40 front-face protection means it is suitable for enclosed panel mounting where no water ingress is expected; the rear and sides are open to the enclosure interior for heat dissipation. Maximum power loss at rated current is 38 W — modest for a 4-pole 80 A breaker, but worth accounting for in a densely packed panel with multiple breakers side by side. The operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, with storage from -40 °C to 80 °C.
Selectivity and Coordination Notes
The 220 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V and 154 kA at 415 V make this breaker suitable for use as a main or feeder device in a selective coordination scheme. When paired with downstream 3VA or 3VL breakers, the TM220's time-current curve — particularly the thermal region — can be set to ride through motor inrush and downstream short-time delays, provided the manufacturer's selectivity tables are followed. The 800 V rated insulation voltage confirms it is rated for 690 V systems with margin.