The Siemens 3VA1196-3EF42-0AA0-ZD00 is a 4-pole IEC frame 160 circuit breaker with a 25 kA breaking capacity at 415 V, rated for line protection in the 3VA1 series. Its thermal-magnetic trip unit (TM240, ATAM) offers adjustable overload protection from 11 A to 16 A and short-circuit protection set at 10 to 20 times the rated current In=16 A. The N conductor is unprotected, and the unit includes a nut keeper kit — a detail that matters when panel builders are torquing down busbar connections and don't want hardware lost inside the enclosure.
What the ratings mean for fit
The 25 kA Icu at 415 V places this breaker in breaking capacity class N — sufficient for most industrial distribution panels where the prospective short-circuit current stays under that threshold. The adjustable Ir (11–16 A) lets you fine-tune overload protection to the connected load without swapping trip units, and the Ii range of 10–20 x In gives flexibility for motor-starting inrush or transformer magnetizing currents. The unprotected N conductor signals that this is a 3-pole-plus-neutral design where the neutral is not switched — common in TN systems where the neutral is solidly grounded and does not require overcurrent protection.
Panel integration notes
Mounts on a standard DIN rail in the enclosure. The nut keeper kit is factory-fitted to the load-side terminals, saving a step during busbar assembly. The 4-pole footprint occupies the same width as four single-pole breakers in the 3VA1 frame, so plan your DIN-rail fill factor accordingly. Derate per IEC 60947-2 when grouping multiple breakers without spacing.