Breaking capacity — what those kA numbers actually mean for your fault-current study
The 3VA1196-6EF32-0KH0: This breaker is rated to interrupt 220 kA at 240 V, 154 kA at 415 V, 121 kA at 440 V, and 17 kA at 690 V. Those are the maximum prospective fault currents the MCCB can safely clear at each voltage level without welding contacts or rupturing the case. For a 480 V panel on a 415 V system, the 154 kA figure is the one your arc-flash study uses — not the 220 kA at 240 V. Show me the rating, then size the upstream protection accordingly.
Thermal derating — the 16 A rating holds to 50 °C, then it drops
The 16 A continuous rating is valid from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient. At 55 °C it derates to 15.36 A, at 60 °C to 15.04 A, at 65 °C to 14.72 A, and at 70 °C to 14.4 A. If this breaker sits in a sealed, uncooled enclosure near a heat source — say a drive cabinet — you need to apply the derating factor for the actual internal ambient, not the control-room temperature. The TM240 release's thermal element responds to both load current and ambient heat; ignoring the curve means nuisance tripping or, worse, a breaker that doesn't hold its rating.
Integrated accessories — shunt trip and auxiliary contacts are built in
This variant comes factory-fitted with a shunt trip release (STL) and an auxiliary contact block carrying 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch HQ. The shunt trip allows remote tripping via a control signal — useful for emergency-stop circuits or supervisory shutdown. The integrated auxiliary release is order code 3VA9688-0BL33, which matters for parts traceability if the release needs replacement. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication function — this is a straightforward line-protection breaker, not a smart metering device.
Physical fit — dimensions and panel integration
The 3VA1196-6EF32-0KH0 measures 130 mm high, 76.2 mm wide, and 70 mm deep. Front-face protection is IP40 — dust-protected but not water-sealed, so it belongs inside a rated enclosure, not on a washdown wall. The 76.2 mm width (3 inches) is standard for a 3-pole MCCB in this frame size; it will fit existing SENTRON mounting feet and busbar connectors without panel modification.