SCCR and selectivity — the numbers that matter for panel coordination
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-5GE46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 16 A continuous with a TM220 thermal-magnetic release. What sets this breaker apart in a distribution panel is its interrupting capacity: 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V AC, 75.6 kA at 440 V AC, and 17 kA at both 500 V and 690 V AC. Those SCCR figures give you headroom for high-fault installations — think transformer secondaries or large motor control centers where available fault current runs high. The TM220 release means the thermal element is fixed (not adjustable), while the magnetic pickup is set at 220 A (13.75x In), which is typical for motor branch circuit protection where you need to ride through inrush without nuisance tripping.
Thermal derating — don't lose capacity to a hot panel
This breaker holds its full 16 A rating up to 55 °C ambient. At 60 °C it derates to 15 A, and it holds 15 A through 70 °C. That's a clean derating curve — you lose only 1 A across a 15 °C rise. For a panel running warm near the top of a switchgear lineup, you can still count on 15 A per pole without recalculating the whole bus. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W, which is modest for a 4-pole 16 A MCCB and won't drive extra ventilation in a typical enclosure.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions are 130 mm high, 101.6 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. It's a standard SENTRON 3VA frame size — mounts on a DIN rail or can be screw-fixed to a backplate. IP40 on the front means it's protected against tools and wires >1 mm entering the front face, but the enclosure itself isn't sealed; it's intended for indoor switchgear and distribution boards where the panel door provides the environmental seal. The 100% N-conductor protection design means the neutral pole is fully rated, not just a switching neutral — important for 4-wire systems where the neutral carries load current.
Approvals and compliance documentation
As a Siemens SENTRON MCCB, this part carries IEC 60947-2 certification by design. Standard documentation includes a CE declaration of conformity and the manufacturer's device manual covering installation, coordination, and DC switching capability. For specific compliance documentation (RoHS, REACH, UL listing status), the manufacturer's Service & Support portal provides the current declarations — the device manual link is referenced in the last chapter of the 3VA molded case circuit breaker manual.