The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-6EF32-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated 16 A continuous at 40 °C, with a massive 220 kA interrupting capacity at 240 VAC. That interrupting rating means it can safely clear a fault current up to 220 kA without welding its contacts or rupturing the case — critical for high-available-fault-current panels like those downstream of a large transformer. It's designed for line protection (not motor or feeder), so the trip curve is optimized for cable and busbar protection, not for starting inrush.
What the ratings mean for fit
The 16 A rating holds steady from 40 °C up to 55 °C, then derates to 15 A at 60 °C and above — so in a warm panel you still get full current up to 55 °C, which is better than many breakers that start derating at 40 °C. The interrupting capacity drops as voltage rises: 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 500 V or 690 V. That's a steep drop above 440 V, so if your system is 480 V or 600 V class, verify the available fault current is under 17 kA. Insulation voltage is rated 800 V, so the breaker itself is built for higher-voltage buswork even if the interrupting numbers are lower up there. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) and two auxiliary switches (HQ design) built in — the UVR means the breaker will trip if the control voltage drops below a threshold, which is common for emergency-stop or undervoltage protection schemes. The auxiliary switches give you status feedback (open/closed) for PLC or indicator lights without needing an add-on module.
Where this MCCB fits in a panel
This is a DIN-rail-mount MCCB (70 mm deep, 76.2 mm wide, 130 mm tall), so it clips onto standard 35 mm DIN rail inside a distribution board or control panel. The 3-pole format handles three-phase circuits. Because it's a line-protection design, it's the right choice for the main incoming breaker or a branch feeder protecting cables and busbars — not for direct motor starting (that needs a motor-protective breaker with a different trip curve).