What this MCCB is and what it carries
The Siemens 3VA1196-3EF46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker from the SENTRON series, designed for line protection with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It's rated 16 A continuous at 40 °C and delivers 75.6 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V — enough to handle high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries without cascading upstream. The 800 V rated insulation voltage and IP40 front protection suit it for panel-mount distribution in industrial switchboards.
Interrupting capacity — what the numbers mean for your fault study
The 75.6 kA at 240 V is the maximum fault current this breaker can safely interrupt at that voltage. At 415 V it's still 52.5 kA, dropping to 32 kA at 440 V and 11.9 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That's a steep derate curve above 240 V — if your system's available fault current at 480 V is, say, 25 kA, this breaker still has headroom at 440 V (32 kA), but at 500 V the 11.9 kA rating is the limit. Match the interrupting rating at your actual line voltage, not the headline number.
Thermal derate and power loss
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 55 °C, then derates to 15 A from 60 °C to 70 °C. That's a clean thermal curve — no surprise drop at 50 °C like some breakers. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W, which matters for heat buildup in a dense panel. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Panel fit and physical integration
Dimensions are 130 mm height, 101.6 mm width, 70 mm depth — standard 4-pole MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or panel-mount. The IP40 front protection means it's sealed against solid objects over 1 mm but not against moisture; keep it inside a dry enclosure. No undervoltage release, no trip indicator, no communication function — this is a straight line-protection breaker with the TM240 release.