The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF32-0DH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection. It carries a continuous current rating of 16 A at 40 °C and delivers a 121 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V — that's the number that decides whether it clears a fault without upstream gear tripping. The 800 V rated insulation voltage means it's built for 480Y/277 V and 600 V panels with headroom.
Interrupting ratings and thermal derating
Interrupting capacity drops as voltage rises: 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 V. That 11.9 kA at 690 V is the weak point — if your fault current at that voltage exceeds it, you need a higher-rated frame. Thermal derating is flat from 40 °C to 55 °C (16 A), then steps to 15 A at 60 °C through 70 °C. Ambient temperature inside a crowded panel pushes the actual ampacity down; the 13.1 W maximum power loss adds to the enclosure heat load.
Built-in undervoltage release and auxiliary switches
This MCCB ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) — a factory-installed auxiliary release that trips the breaker when supply voltage drops below a threshold, common in safety circuits or motor-start interlocking. It also carries two auxiliary switches plus a trip alarm switch (HQ), so you get remote status indication without adding a separate accessory block. The trip indicator on the front gives a local visual flag.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep. That 70 mm depth is the key number for enclosure clearance — it fits standard 200 mm deep wall-mount enclosures without the door hitting the breaker handle. Width at 76.2 mm (3 inches) is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint; it occupies three 25 mm module spaces on a DIN rail or panel-mount base.