What it is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA1196-5ED12-0AA0 is a 1-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — meaning it guards a single phase against overload and short-circuit faults in a distribution panel or industrial control cabinet. It carries a TM210 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release, so the trip curve is fixed — no interchangeable trip units — and the thermal element handles sustained overloads while the magnetic element clears short-circuit events.
Rated current and thermal derating
Rated 16 A continuously at ambient temperatures from 40 °C through 55 °C; above that it derates to 15 A at 60 °C, 65 °C, and 70 °C. That flat 16 A band from 40 to 55 °C is useful in a warm panel — you don't lose headroom until the enclosure interior passes 55 °C.
Breaking capacity — the number that decides fault clearance
Rated short-circuit breaking capacity of 121 kA at 240 V AC and 9 kA at 415 V AC. The 121 kA figure at 240 V is exceptionally high for a 1-pole 16 A MCCB — it means this breaker can safely interrupt a fault on a high-capacity 240 V supply without the arc re-striking or the case rupturing. At 415 V the 9 kA rating is more typical for a 16 A frame; coordination studies should use the 415 V value for three-phase line-to-line faults.
Panel fit and environment
Measures 25.4 mm wide, 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep — a single-pole width that fits standard DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures. IP40 on the front face means protection against tools and wires >1 mm, but not against water ingress; keep it inside a sealed cabinet in washdown areas. Operates from -25 °C to 70 °C ambient, stores from -40 °C to 80 °C. Maximum power loss is 3.53 W — negligible for thermal budgeting in a dense panel, but worth noting if you are stacking multiple breakers in a small enclosure.