What the interrupting ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-5EF32-0CA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for line protection, carrying a 16 A continuous current rating that holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C — no derating needed in a typical warm enclosure. Above that, it steps down in 0.32 A increments per 5 °C, hitting 14.4 A at 70 °C. The interrupting capacity is the headline number here: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V. Those are not theoretical peaks; they are the fault currents this MCCB can safely clear without welding its contacts or rupturing the case. For a 16 A frame, that is an exceptionally high interrupting rating — it means the breaker can sit downstream of a large transformer or a high-capacity bus without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream to protect it. The 800 V rated insulation voltage (Ui) confirms it is rated for 690 V line-to-line industrial systems.
Release, auxiliaries, and what is inside the can
This MCCB ships with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — the thermal element handles overloads on a time curve, the magnetic element trips instantaneously on short-circuit. An undervoltage release (UVR) is fitted as standard, wired to the control voltage so the breaker drops out on a brownout or a deliberate signal from an E-stop chain. There is no auxiliary contact block on this unit, no ground-fault monitoring, no phase-failure detection, and no communication module. If you need remote status feedback, the integrated auxiliary trip (order code 3VA9608-0BB24) is the path. The front face is rated IP40 — protected against tools and wires over 1 mm, but not sealed against moisture or dust ingress. Panel builders should plan for the 70 mm depth, 76.2 mm width, and 130 mm height when laying out the enclosure.