The Siemens 3VA1196-5EF36-0AG0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) sized for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a rated continuous current Iu of 16 A across three poles, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release that gives you a fixed thermal pickup and magnetic trip tailored for feeder or small motor branch circuits. The interrupting capacity hits 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, and still holds 17 kA up at 690 V — so it clears high-fault conditions without upstream coordination headaches.
What the current ratings mean for your panel
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C up to 50 °C — no derate needed in a typical ventilated enclosure. At 55 °C it drops to 15.36 A, at 60 °C to 15.04 A, and at 70 °C to 14.4 A. If your panel runs hot near a drive or transformer bank, size the load at the 70 °C figure, not the nameplate 16 A. The rated insulation voltage Ui of 800 V means the internal clearances handle 690 V line-to-line without tracking, so this breaker is comfortable in 400 V and 690 V industrial systems. The adjustable time delay tr max. of 1 second on the thermal element lets you coordinate with downstream breakers on high-inrush loads like motor starters.
Integration and mounting
The 3VA1196-5EF36-0AG0 measures 70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, and 130 mm tall — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that drops into SENTRON panelboards and most DIN-rail or screw-mount backplates. It ships with an auxiliary switch and a separate trip alarm switch (1 aux + 1 trip alarm HP) for remote status indication. The front face carries an IP40 rating, enough for a clean indoor panel but not washdown duty. The trip indicator flag gives a visual cue without opening the door — handy when you're walking a route and want to spot a tripped breaker from arm's length.