What this MCCB delivers
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1196-6GF46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated 16 A continuous, with a TM240 thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. It is designed for line protection in distribution panels, with a short-circuit breaking capacity of 220 kA at 240 V AC and 154 kA at 415 V AC — enough to handle high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries without cascading upstream breakers. The TM240 release means the thermal element is fixed at 16 A; the magnetic pickup is factory-set to 240 A (15× In), so it clears bolted faults fast while riding through moderate motor inrush. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, giving headroom for 690 V line-to-line systems. At 70 mm deep, 101.6 mm wide, and 130 mm tall, it fits standard 4-pole MCCB footprints in Siemens SENTRON panelboards. Front-side IP40 protection handles dry indoor environments; no trip indicator or undervoltage release is fitted on this variant.
Thermal derating and power loss
The breaker carries 16 A without derating up to 55 °C ambient. Above that, it drops to 15 A at 60 °C, 65 °C, and 70 °C — a 6% reduction that matters if the panel runs hot near a transformer or drive bank. Maximum power loss is 10.6 W at rated current, which helps with enclosure heat budget.