160 A MCCB with 187 kA interrupting rating — what that means for your panel
The Siemens 3VA1216-5EF32-0HH0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous at 40 °C, with a 3-pole configuration and a massive 187 kA breaking capacity at 240 V AC. That interrupting rating drops to 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, 30 kA at 500 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — so the SCCR headroom is there for high-fault industrial services, not just residential mains. The 160 A rating holds steady from 40 °C through 50 °C, then derates to 156 A at 55 °C and 142 A at 70 °C; if your panel ambient runs hot, that thermal curve is the one that governs the real load it can carry. That means it can be remotely tripped from a safety circuit or PLC output, and it reports its status back — useful when you need to coordinate a fast shutdown sequence without relying on the main breaker handle. Panel builders will recognize the form factor: it's the same mechanical envelope as other 3VA1 frame breakers, so a swap-in upgrade from a lower-rated unit doesn't require re-drilling the mounting plate or re-routing the bus bars.
Active production — no lifecycle concern
Power loss is 33 W maximum at rated load — a moderate figure for a 160 A frame.