160 A MCCB with TM240 release — line protection for high-fault panels
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1216-5FF42-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current (Iu) at 40 °C, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its TM240 thermal-magnetic release provides fixed overload and short-circuit protection without adjustable trip thresholds — a straightforward choice for main feeder or large subfeed applications where coordination studies have already set the pickup. Breaking capacity is the headline: 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V, 75.6 kA at 440 V, 30 kA at 500 V, and 17 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA at 240 V covers high-available-fault-current panels fed close to a utility transformer or large generator. At 415/440 V the 121/75.6 kA figures still place it in the high-interrupting category for most industrial switchboards. The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C — no derating needed in a normally ventilated 50 °C enclosure. At 55 °C it steps to 156 A, at 60 °C to 151 A, at 65 °C to 147 A, and at 70 °C to 142 A. For a panel sitting in a hot mechanical room or near a furnace, that thermal curve is the real selection gate: if your ambient hits 60 °C, the breaker is good for 151 A, not 160 A.
Mounting and panel fit
Dimensions are 158 mm high, 140 mm wide, 70 mm deep. The 140 mm width for a 4-pole frame is standard for SENTRON 3VA1 — it fits the same mounting footprint as other 160 A 4-pole variants in the family. Front IP40 protection is sufficient for enclosed panel mounting; no gasketing for washdown environments. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so the breaker is suitable for 690 V line-to-line systems with margin. Power loss at rated current is 33 W maximum — account for that in enclosure thermal calculations if the panel is densely packed.