The SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF36-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. Its interrupting capacity hits 121 kA at 240 V and 75.6 kA at 415 V, so it handles high-fault service-entrance or distribution positions where the upstream transformer can dump serious energy into a bolted fault. The TM240 release means the thermal element is fixed-trip at 16 A (no field-adjustable thermal dial), and the magnetic pickup is set at 240 A — 15× the rated current. That's a high magnetic threshold, typical for line protection where you want to ride through motor inrush without nuisance tripping.
Ratings and what they mean for your panel
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient; above that it derates to 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 your enclosure runs hot — say a packed MCC bucket or a sun-baked outdoor cabinet — you lose about 10 % of capacity at the top end. Plan your load at 14 A continuous to stay clear of the thermal curve. Interrupting capacity drops as system voltage climbs: 121 kA at 240 V, 75.6 kA at 415 V, 52.5 kA at 440 V, and 11.9 kA at 690 V. The 690 V figure is low enough that you need to verify series rating or upstream current-limiting fuses if the available fault current at that voltage exceeds 11.9 kA. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the breaker is suitable for 690 V line-to-line systems. The front face carries IP40 protection — fine for a closed panel, but not rated for washdown or outdoor exposure without an additional enclosure.
Built-in auxiliaries and releases
This unit ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) integrated, part of the auxiliary release design. It also includes two auxiliary switches (HQ type) for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. The UVR will trip the breaker if control voltage drops below a threshold — useful for preventing automatic restart after a power sag. No trip indicator, no voltage trigger, no communication function, no phase failure detection, and no ground fault monitoring. It's a straightforward line-protection MCCB — not a multifunction power monitor. If you need remote trip indication or ground fault, you'd add an external module or specify a different variant.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth. The 76.2 mm width is three 25.4 mm pole spaces — standard for a 3-pole MCCB on a DIN rail or panel-mount footprint. Depth of 70 mm means it clears most shallow enclosures, but check the gland plate clearance if you're back-paneling with a cover. Latching endurance is rated at 15,000 operations — that's the mechanical life for the switching mechanism. The electrical life will be lower depending on the load current and switching frequency; for frequent switching applications, factor in a replacement interval well before that number.