What this MCCB delivers
The Siemens 3VA1196-5EF36-0HH0 is a 3-pole SENTRON molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current (Iu) with a TM240 thermal-magnetic trip unit. Its breaking capacity scales with system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — so the same breaker handles high-fault commercial mains and lower-fault industrial distribution without a frame change. The TM240 trip gives you fixed thermal and magnetic settings; no electronic adjustment, which means fewer setup steps and one less failure point in a panel. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and the breaker carries a front IP40 rating — fine for enclosed panel mounting where the front face is behind a door. Depth is 70 mm, width 76.2 mm, height 130 mm, so it fits standard SENTRON mounting footprints without surprises.
Thermal derating and continuous current
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates: 15.36 A at 55 °C, 15.04 A at 60 °C, 14.72 A at 65 °C, and 14.4 A at 70 °C. If the panel runs hot — say near a drive or transformer — size the load for the derated figure at the actual cabinet ambient, not the nameplate 16 A. Operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage handles -40 °C to 80 °C.
Auxiliary contacts and shunt trip
Factory-fitted with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ configuration) — enough for remote status and a separate alarm signal without adding a module. The integrated shunt trip (STL) uses accessory order code 3VA9688-0BL30; if you need undervoltage release, this variant does not carry it, so spec the UVR as a separate add-on if the application requires it.