What this MCCB is and where it lives
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-5EF36-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It's built for line protection in distribution panels and motor control centers, not for motor overload duty. The interrupting capacity is the headline here — 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — so it handles high-fault industrial feeders without cascading upstream. The 70 mm depth and 76.2 mm width fit a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint on a DIN rail or mounting plate. Front IP40 keeps dust out of the enclosure face.
What the ratings mean for your panel
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C — no derating needed in a reasonably ventilated enclosure. At 55 °C it drops to 15.36 A, then 15.04 A at 60 °C, 14.72 A at 65 °C, and 14.4 A at 70 °C. If your panel runs hot near a transformer or drive, size the load side for the derated figure, not the nameplate 16 A. The TM240 release is a fixed thermal-magnetic type; there's no electronic adjustment or communication module on this variant. The shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release lets you trip remotely via a control signal — useful for emergency-stop circuits or interlocking. Two auxiliary switches HQ give status feedback (open/closed) back to a PLC or indicator lamp.