What this MCCB does on the line
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-4EF36-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 16 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a breaking capacity of 121 kA at 240 V AC. It's built for line protection — meaning it sits upstream protecting feeders and distribution, not a specific motor or load. The insulation voltage is rated at 800 V, so it's comfortable in 480 V and 600 V class panels. It carries a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and two HQ auxiliary switches, which matter if you're coordinating with a PLC or safety circuit that needs to kill the breaker remotely.
Breaking capacity — what those numbers mean for your panel
This breaker's interrupting rating changes with system voltage, and that's the number that decides if it clears a fault without welding its contacts shut. At 240 V it handles 121 kA — plenty for most service-entrance or large subfeed applications. At 415 V it's rated 75.6 kA, at 440 V it's 52.5 kA, and at 500 V or 690 V it drops to 11.9 kA. If your available fault current at the panel exceeds the rating at your system voltage, this breaker won't hold — you need to step up to a higher-rated frame or add current-limiting fuses upstream.
Thermal derating — the real continuous current
The 16 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 55 °C ambient. At 60 °C it derates to 15 A, and stays at 15 A through 70 °C. If your panel runs hot — say next to a drive or in a non-conditioned electrical room — that derating matters for conductor sizing and load management. The maximum operating temperature is 70 °C, storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C.
Physical fit and panel integration
The breaker measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. That 76.2 mm width is a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint — it'll drop into a panel designed for SENTRON or most IEC 3-pole frames without re-drilling the mounting plate. The shunt trip and two auxiliary switches are factory-fitted, so you don't lose space adding them later. Power loss is 10.6 W maximum, which matters for thermal budgeting in a sealed enclosure.