What this MCCB delivers on the line
The Siemens 3VA1196-5EF32-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its headline number is the 187 kA interrupting capacity at 240 V — that means it can safely clear a fault current up to that level without welding contacts or venting gas into the enclosure, which is critical for high-fault installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. Rated 16 A continuous at 40 °C ambient, it holds that rating flat through 55 °C, then derates to 15 A at 60 °C and above. For a panel running warm — say, a packed enclosure near a furnace line — that derating curve is the number that governs real-world ampacity, not the 16 A label. Three-pole configuration with a TM240 thermal-magnetic trip unit. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module — this is a straight line-protection breaker, sized for the branch circuit, not a multifunction feeder device.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions: 130 mm tall, 76.2 mm wide, 70 mm deep. The 70 mm depth is the key clearance number for shallow backpanels or gland-plate clearance — measure your enclosure depth before committing. IP40 on the front face, meaning tool-protected access; fine for a locked panel, not for washdown zones. Power loss maxes at 10.6 W — negligible for thermal budgeting in a standard steel enclosure, but worth noting if you're packing multiple breakers in a sealed box with no forced ventilation.