MCCB for high-fault panels
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-5EF32-0AD0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated 16 A with a TM240 thermal-magnetic release, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 V (cite:) and 121 kA at 415 V (cite:) — numbers that tell you this breaker handles high available fault current without upstream cascading. That's the spec that decides fit for a main or subfeed breaker in a large industrial switchboard.
Thermal derating and enclosure planning
Rated current holds at 16 A from 40 °C up to 55 °C (cite:–), then derates to 15 A at 60 °C and above (cite:–). In a sealed enclosure with multiple breakers ganged, that derating curve matters — you don't lose headroom until the ambient pushes past 55 °C. The 70 mm depth (cite:) and 76.2 mm width (cite:) fit standard MCCB mounting footprints; the 10.6 W max power loss (cite:) is manageable but adds up in a densely packed panel.
Key ratings at a glance
Rated insulation voltage 800 V (cite:). Interrupting capacity drops with voltage: 75.6 kA at 440 V (cite:), 17 kA at 500 V and 690 V (cite:–). The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type — no electronic adjustment, no communication function (cite:), no undervoltage release (cite:), no ground-fault monitoring (cite:). Three auxiliary switches HQ are built in (cite:). Operating temperature range -25 °C to 70 °C (cite:–); storage from -40 °C to 80 °C (cite:–).