What this 160 A MCCB brings to the panel
The SENTRON 3VA1116-6GE46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous, with a TM220 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It's designed for line protection — think main feeder or large branch in a distribution panel. The interrupting ratings climb steeply at lower voltages: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, still 75.6 kA at 440 V, and holds 17 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That makes it a solid choice for high-fault-capacity mains where you need to clear a dead short without upstream coordination headaches.
Thermal derating — it's not 160 A everywhere
The breaker holds its full 160 A rating up to 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates linearly: 158 A at 55 °C, 155 A at 60 °C, 153 A at 65 °C, and 150 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot — say a non-ventilated enclosure near a furnace line — factor that 150 A floor at 70 °C into your load calculation. The 38 W max power loss means it dumps some heat into the enclosure; plan ventilation accordingly.
Mounting and integration
It's a panel-mount MCCB — no DIN rail, bolts directly to the backpan. Dimensions: 130 mm high, 101.6 mm wide, 70 mm deep. That 70 mm depth is shallow enough to fit in a 200 mm deep enclosure with room for rear busbars. The front face carries IP40 protection, so it's fine in a clean indoor panel but not for washdown zones. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, giving headroom for 480 V or 600 V systems.