What this MCCB carries and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA1196-6EE36-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) built for line protection on 3-phase distribution. It carries a TM220 thermal-magnetic release — fixed thermal trip at 16 A (rated at 40 °C) and magnetic short-circuit pickup set at 220 A (the '220' in TM220). The 3-pole frame handles 800 V rated insulation voltage, and the front face is IP40 rated for panel-mount use. Breaking capacity is the headline here: 220 kA at 240 V AC, 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and it still holds 17 kA at 690 V. That 154 kA at 415 V means it can interrupt a fault current up to that level without the arc flashing over — critical for high-fault installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers where the available fault current is well above what a standard MCB can handle.
Thermal derating and real-world current
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 55 °C — no derating needed in a warm panel. At 60 °C and 65 °C it drops to 15 A, and at 70 °C it stays at 15 A. That's a shallow derating curve; most MCCBs in this frame size start rolling off earlier. If your enclosure ambient sits at 50 °C, you get the full 16 A without having to oversize the frame. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W at rated load — modest for a 3-pole 16 A frame. That heat goes into the panel; factor it into your thermal budget if you're stacking multiple breakers in a sealed enclosure.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions: 130 mm height, 76.2 mm width, 70 mm depth. The 70 mm depth is shallow for a 3-pole MCCB with 220 kA interrupting rating — it fits in a 200 mm deep enclosure with room for wiring gutters behind it. Width at 76.2 mm is a standard 3-module footprint on DIN rail or panel-mount base. The IP40 front protection means it's dust-protected on the face but not sealed against hose-down — standard for indoor panel mounting. No undervoltage release, no shunt trip, no communication module on this variant. It's a straight thermal-magnetic line protection breaker with a TM220 release. If you need aux contacts or a UVR, you add them via the accessory slots on the 3VA frame.