MCCB with high breaking capacity for line protection
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, carrying a continuous current Iu of 16 A and a rated insulation voltage Ui of 800 V. Its TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release provides fixed thermal and magnetic trip settings, while the integrated shunt trip (STL) allows remote tripping via a separate control signal. Breaking capacity reaches 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, and 52.5 kA at 440 V — figures that determine whether this breaker clears a fault without upstream coordination issues.
Breaking capacity and selectivity
The 121 kA at 240 V and 75.6 kA at 415 V ratings mean this breaker handles high available fault currents common in industrial switchboards — a panel with a 100 kA SCCR at 240 V is fully covered. The 52.5 kA at 440 V still exceeds most 440 V distribution panels. For 690 V applications the 11.9 kA figure is lower, so verify coordination with upstream devices if the fault current exceeds that threshold.
Thermal derating curve
Rated 16 A continuously at ambient temperatures up to 50 °C. Above 55 °C the current derates: 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 the breaker lives in a hot enclosure — near drives or transformers — use the 55 °C or 60 °C line for sizing, not the 16 A nameplate. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type — no interchangeable trip unit. That simplifies ordering but means you cannot adjust the long-time or short-time pickup in the field. For applications needing adjustable trip curves, a different 3VA variant with an electronic release would be the correct choice.
Dimensions and panel fit
Width 76.2 mm, height 130 mm, depth 70 mm. The 76.2 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint — fits common panel cutouts and busbar systems. Depth 70 mm leaves room for rear-connected busbars or accessory modules. IP40 on the front (protected against tools and small wires >1 mm).
Auxiliary contacts and accessories
Comes with two auxiliary switches HQ (high-quantity) factory-fitted — these signal the breaker's open/closed status to a PLC or status lamp. The shunt trip (STL) release is built in, with the auxiliary release order code 3VA9688-0BL30 for reference. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module on this variant.
Environmental limits
Operating temperature range -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range -40 °C to 80 °C. The storage minimum of -40 °C matters for unheated warehouses in cold climates — the breaker can sit on a shelf at -40 °C without damage, but it must be warmed above -25 °C before energizing.