The Siemens 3VA1196-4EF32-0AA0 is a SENTRON 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection. It carries a continuous current of 16 A at 40 °C and a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. The interrupting capacity hits 121 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 75.6 kA at 415 V and 52.5 kA at 440 V — numbers that matter for high-fault panels where selectivity and SCCR headroom are the deciding factor.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 55 °C; at 60 °C it derates to 15 A, and at 70 °C it's still 15 A. That's a tight thermal curve — good for warm enclosures where you need the breaker to hold without nuisance trips. The TM240 release means the magnetic trip is fixed at 240 A (15× the thermal rating), so it's sized for motor inrush or transformer magnetizing currents that briefly spike above the thermal pickup. Interrupting capacity is the headline: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 500 V and 690 V. That's a high-interrupting MCCB — it can clear a bolted fault on a 240 V distribution board without upstream fuses needing to coordinate. The 800 V rated insulation voltage confirms it's built for 690 V systems with margin.
Physical fit and panel integration
The 3VA1196-4EF32-0AA0 measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep — a compact footprint for a 3-pole MCCB with this fault rating. The front face carries IP40 protection, so it's fine for dry indoor panels but not washdown zones. No undervoltage release, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring — it's a straight line-protection breaker with a thermal-magnetic trip.