What this MCCB is and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA1196-5ED22-0AA0 is a 2-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — meaning it sits at the distribution point to protect downstream cables and equipment from overloads and short circuits. Its rated continuous current of 16 A holds flat across ambient temperatures up to 55 °C, then derates to 15 A at 60 °C and above, so in a warm panel you lose 1 A of headroom. Breaking capacity is 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415 V AC — figures that cover most industrial service-entrance and sub-distribution fault levels without needing a current-limiting upstream device.
TM210 release and what it means for coordination
The overcurrent release is a TM210 — a thermal-magnetic fixed-trip design. Thermal element handles overloads (the 16 A continuous rating); magnetic element handles short-circuit instantaneous trip. No ground-fault or undervoltage release on this variant, so if your scheme requires those functions, you need a different 3VA option. The 2-pole configuration suits single-phase or two-phase line protection; for three-phase loads you'd spec a 3-pole sibling. Power loss at rated current is 7.06 W, which factors into panel thermal budgeting.
Panel fit and environmental limits
Dimensions: 130 mm height, 50.8 mm width (2 inches — fits a standard 2-pole MCCB slot), 70 mm depth. Front protection is IP40 — tools and fingers won't reach live parts, but the enclosure itself must be rated for the overall panel IP. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. Insulation voltage rated 500 V, so it can be used in 480 V systems with margin.