16 A MCCB with 75.6 kA at 415 V — what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF32-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for a continuous current Iu of 16 A, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. The 75.6 kA breaking capacity at 415 V is the number that decides whether this breaker clears a fault before the upstream device has to — that's selectivity headroom for a distribution board fed by a transformer in the 400 V class. At 240 V it handles 121 kA, and at 690 V it still holds 11.9 kA, so it covers both low-voltage service entrances and 690 V motor circuits where the fault current is lower. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type — no interchangeable trip unit, no communication module, no ground-fault monitoring. That keeps the BOM simple: one part number, one curve. The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C, then derates to 14.4 A at 70 °C. If your panel ambient runs above 50 °C, size the continuous load against the derated figure, not the nameplate 16 A. It ships without auxiliary contacts or a trip indicator — the only integrated accessory is the undervoltage release (UVR), which drops the breaker on loss of control voltage. For status feedback you add the auxiliary trip accessory 3VA9608-0BB24 externally.
Panel fit and environmental limits
The 3VA1196-4EF32-0CA0 measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm high, and 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that drops into a SENTRON distribution board or a separate enclosure. Front protection is IP40, so it's fine inside a clean panel but not for washdown or outdoor exposure without a higher-rated enclosure around it. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The 15 000 latching endurance cycles cover routine switching for a line-protection breaker that isn't cycled daily — expect it to outlast the panel's service life in a typical distribution role.