What this MCCB does on the line
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-6EF32-0AC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 16 A continuous current, built for line protection in distribution panels. Its TM240 thermal-magnetic release handles overloads and short circuits without external trip units. The interrupting capacity hits 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, and 121 kA at 440 V — that's enough to clear high-fault scenarios upstream of a transformer or in a main feeder position. At 690 V it still breaks 17 kA, so it's not a one-voltage pony. No trip indicator, no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module — this is a straightforward thermal-magnetic breaker, not a smart unit. If you need remote status or ground-fault protection, you're looking at a different variant in the 3VA family. The auxiliary contact version here is two HQ switches, which is enough to signal trip and position back to a PLC or indicator lamp.
Thermal derating and panel fit
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C to 50 °C ambient. Above that it starts to step down: 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 your panel runs hot — say next to a drive cabinet or in a non-conditioned enclosure — factor that curve into your load schedule. The operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C, so cold starts in unheated spaces are fine. Storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Dimensions: 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall, 70 mm deep. That's a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for a 16 A frame. Front protection is IP40, so it's fine inside a closed panel but not for washdown areas. It mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the screw holes — no special adapter needed.