What this MCCB delivers for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1196-4EF32-0AF0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic release. Its 121 kA breaking capacity at 240 V means it can safely interrupt fault currents up to that level without cascading damage upstream — critical for high-available-fault-current panels in industrial distribution. The 3-pole design and line-protection version make it a straight fit for feeder or branch circuits in switchboards.
Breaking capacity across voltages — selectivity headroom
This MCCB delivers 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 690 V. The 121 kA at 240 V gives substantial headroom for North American panels with high transformer fault contributions. At 690 V the 11.9 kA still covers most industrial motor-drive line-side protection. The TM240 release is fixed, not adjustable — set it and forget it for straightforward thermal-magnetic coordination.
Temperature derating — real-world continuous current
Rated 16 A from 40 °C to 50 °C. Above that, derate linearly: 15.36 A at 55 °C, 15.04 A at 60 °C, 14.72 A at 65 °C, and 14.4 A at 70 °C. If your panel ambient runs hot (enclosed switchroom, solar combiner), size the load at the derated value — the breaker will hold without nuisance tripping.
Built-in trip indicator and auxiliary contacts
Includes a trip indicator for visual fault confirmation, plus one auxiliary switch and one trip alarm switch — HQ version, meaning high-availability signaling for remote monitoring or PLC input. No undervoltage release, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring on this variant; it's a pure line-protection MCCB with basic status feedback.