What this MCCB does on the line
The Siemens 3VA1196-3EF32-0HA0 is a 3-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current (Iu) with a TM240 thermal-magnetic release — meaning it protects a feeder or branch from sustained overloads and short circuits up to its breaking capacity. It's built for line protection, not motor or generator duty, so it's the right call for a distribution panel, lighting panel, or general-purpose power feed where you need a clean trip curve and no extra bells. Breaking capacity climbs to 75.6 kA at 240 V, drops to 52.5 kA at 415 V, and still holds 10.5 kA at 690 V — that high-fault rating at the lower voltages means it can sit upstream of a sub-panel without worrying about series ratings or cascading failure. The 800 V rated insulation voltage (Ui) keeps it comfortable in 400/480 V systems with headroom. It ships with a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release (design 3VA9688-0BL30) for remote tripping, but no undervoltage release, no auxiliary contacts, no communication module — it's a bare-bones breaker for a straightforward feeder. If your BOM calls for an undervoltage coil or a set of aux contacts, you'll need to add them separately.
Thermal derating and panel fit
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient — no derating needed in a typical 40 °C panel. Above that it steps down: 15.36 A at 55 °C, 15.04 A at 60 °C, 14.72 A at 65 °C, and 14.4 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot from tightly packed drives or a transformer nearby, size the load or the breaker for the actual ambient, not the nameplate 16 A. Physical envelope: 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep. That width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint — it'll fit a 3-pole slot in most SENTRON distribution blocks or a DIN-rail adapter. IP40 on the front means it's splash-resistant from the panel face but not sealed; mount it in an enclosure rated for the environment.