Siemens 3VA1196-4EF32-0JH0 — 16 A MCCB, 121 kA at 240 V
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF32-0JH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for line protection, carrying a full 16 A up to 55 °C ambient before derating begins at 60 °C to 15 A. Breaking capacity hits 121 kA at 240 V AC, dropping to 75.6 kA at 415 V and 52.5 kA at 440 V — still substantial for downstream fault isolation in distribution panels. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so it handles 480/600 V systems comfortably.
Breaking capacity and thermal performance
This MCCB maintains its full 16 A rating across the 40 °C to 55 °C band — no early derating. Above that, it drops to 15 A at 60 °C through 70 °C. At 690 V the breaking capacity holds at 11.9 kA, same as at 500 V, which is unusual for this class — most breakers see a steeper drop above 500 V. The 121 kA at 240 V means it can sit on the load side of a high-fault transformer without needing a current-limiting upstream breaker.
Panel fit and auxiliary options
Mounts on DIN rail or panel — 76.2 mm wide (3 in), 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep. Ships with a factory-installed shunt trip (STL) and two auxiliary switches plus a trip alarm switch (HQ configuration). Trip indicator and voltage trigger are present; undervoltage release is absent. Power loss at full load is 10.6 W — factor that into enclosure thermal calculations if densely populated.