What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1196-4EF32-0AD0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in industrial power distribution. It carries a rated current of 16 A up to 55 °C, derating to 15 A at 60 °C and above — so in a warm cabinet you lose 1 A of headroom above 55 °C ambient. Breaking capacity is the headline here: 121 kA at 240 V AC, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That means it can safely interrupt very high fault currents on a 240 V secondary bus without upstream coordination — a real advantage for high-fault panels. The overcurrent release is a TM240 thermal-magnetic type, and the breaker is fitted with three auxiliary switches HQ. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so the 690 V breaking rating is within the insulation envelope. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum — factor that into enclosure thermal calculations.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep — a 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits standard Siemens SENTRON mounting plates and DIN-rail adapters. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) matches the typical 3-pole MCCB slot in a distribution board. No undervoltage release or ground-fault monitoring on this variant.