What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1196-3EF32-0JC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in a 3-pole, 16 A frame, fitted with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It is designated as a line protection device, meaning its primary job is to protect cable and bus runs from overload and short-circuit faults in a distribution panel. Rated 16 A continuously at 40 °C, it holds that rating through 55 °C and derates to 15 A at 60 °C and above. The interrupting capacity is 75.6 kA at 240 V, 52.5 kA at 415 V, 32 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V — so the available fault current at the panel location determines which voltage column governs the selection. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type — no interchangeable trip unit, no electronic adjustment. That makes this breaker a straight drop-in for a BOM line where the trip curve and rating are already locked in, not a design-phase adjustable platform.
Panel fit and integration
Footprint is 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB width that fits most DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures without surprises. The 70 mm depth leaves room behind a 200 mm deep gland plate for wiring and auxiliary wiring channels. Comes with 2 HQ auxiliary switches built in, so you get status feedback (open/closed/tripped) without adding a separate side-mount block. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module on this variant — keep that in mind if the spec calls for shunt trip or remote monitoring. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C. Storage range extends from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W — negligible for thermal budgeting inside a ventilated enclosure, but worth noting if the panel is sealed and densely packed.