SENTRON 3VA1196-5GD42-0AA0 — 16 A MCCB, 4-Pole, TM210 Release
The Siemens 3VA1196-5GD42-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated at 16 A continuous, with four poles and a TM210 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It is designed for line protection in distribution panels and switchgear assemblies. Breaking capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V — figures that cover most industrial low-voltage fault-current scenarios without needing a current-limiting upstream device. The 4-pole configuration (3 phases + neutral) suits three-phase four-wire systems where the neutral requires coordinated overcurrent protection, common in North American and European panel builds.
Ratings and What They Mean for Fit
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 55 °C ambient, then derates to 15 A at 60–70 °C. This means the breaker can be packed into a warm enclosure without losing capacity until the internal air temperature exceeds 55 °C — typical for a crowded panel with multiple devices dissipating heat. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and operating temperature spans -25 °C to +70 °C, with storage from -40 °C to +80 °C. The IP40 protection on the front face keeps tools and fingers out but is not rated for washdown — mount inside a sealed enclosure if the environment is wet or dusty. Maximum power dissipation is 10.6 W. In a multi-breaker panel, that heat adds up; account for it in the enclosure thermal calculation to avoid cascading derating.
Physical Footprint and Panel Integration
Dimensions are 130 mm height, 101.6 mm width, 70 mm depth. The 101.6 mm (4-inch) width is the standard SENTRON 3VA1 frame width for 4-pole units, so it fits existing cutouts and busbar layouts in Siemens panelboards and third-party enclosures designed for the 3VA family. Mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a mounting plate via the integrated lugs. No communication function, no undervoltage release, and no ground-fault monitoring on this variant — it is a straight thermal-magnetic breaker for basic line protection.