The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-6EF32-0AH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 16 A, designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release — the thermal element handles overloads, the magnetic element clears short-circuits. The 220 kA breaking capacity at 240 V means it can safely interrupt fault currents up to that level without upstream fuses or a current-limiting reactor, which simplifies coordination in high-fault-capacity installations like transformer secondaries or large motor control centers. At 415 V the rating is 154 kA, at 440 V it is 121 kA, and at 500 V and 690 V it holds 17 kA — the steep drop above 500 V reflects the arc-extinction limits of the 3VA platform at higher line voltages.
Current derating and thermal management
The 16 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 55 °C (–), then derates to 15 A at 60 °C through 70 °C (–). That means in a warm enclosure — say a panel with drives or transformers — you do not lose headroom until the ambient crosses 55 °C. The maximum power loss is 10.6 W, which is modest for a 3-pole MCCB at this rating; it keeps the internal temperature rise low enough that the derating curve is the binding limit, not self-heating.
Physical fit and auxiliary wiring
The breaker measures 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm high, and 70 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most Siemens SENTRON panelboards and third-party enclosures with 3 x 25 mm busbar spacing. It ships with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ) factory-installed. The trip indicator gives a local mechanical flag so a technician can confirm the breaker tripped on fault versus being manually switched off — useful during fault-finding without needing to open the cover.