What it is and what the ratings mean
The Siemens 3VA1196-4EF36-0AA0 is a SENTRON 3VA1 molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — the primary feeder or distribution circuit, not a motor-protective device. It carries 3 poles, a rated current of 16 A that holds steady from 40 °C up to 55 °C, then derates to 15 A at 60–70 °C, so in a warm panel you lose only 1 A. The TM240 thermal-magnetic release means the thermal element is fixed at 16 A and the magnetic pickup is factory-set; there is no interchangeable trip unit. Breaking capacity is what decides whether this breaker clears a fault without welding or rupturing: 121 kA at 240 VAC, 75.6 kA at 415 VAC, 52.5 kA at 440 VAC, and 11.9 kA at both 500 V and 690 VAC. At 415 V — common in European industrial distribution — 75.6 kA is high enough for most transformer-fed switchboards; at 690 V the 11.9 kA figure still covers typical motor-circuit fault levels. The rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the internal clearances are sized for 690 V systems. Front-face protection is IP40 — tools and fingers are kept out, but it is not sealed against water spray, so mount it inside a panel or enclosure, not in a washdown zone. Dimensions are 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide (3 inches), 70 mm deep, which is a standard MCCB footprint for DIN-rail or screw-mount panels. Maximum power dissipation is 10.6 W — negligible for thermal budgeting in a populated cabinet.
Panel integration and environment
Mounts on DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the screw terminals. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) is a standard 3-pole MCCB pitch, so it fits alongside other SENTRON or third-party breakers in a multi-unit distribution block. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C, so it can sit in an unheated warehouse or on a truck in winter without damage.