160 A MCCB with starter-protection release
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA1216-5MH32-0AG0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current (Iu) and fitted with a TM120M thermal-magnetic overcurrent release. The starter-protection version means it's tuned for motor branch circuits — the magnetic trip responds fast enough to handle locked-rotor inrush without nuisance tripping on a healthy start, while the thermal element protects the motor feeder against sustained overload. Breaking capacity is the headline here: 187 kA at 240 V AC and still 121 kA at 415 V. That's serious fault-current headroom for a 160 A frame — it'll clear a bolted fault upstream of a motor starter without the arc flash escalating. At 440 V it's still 30 kA, enough for most 480 V distribution panels in North America. The 800 V rated insulation voltage (Ui) means the internal clearances are built for 690 V systems too. Out here in the grease, what matters is whether this thing handles the heat a motor panel sees. The continuous current holds flat at 160 A all the way up to 50 °C ambient (-). Past that it starts to derate — 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, down to 144 A at 70 °C (-). If your panel sits next to a hot motor or a sunny wall, you need to account for that taper; the breaker won't trip early, but you lose headroom.
Panel fit and auxiliary contacts
The 3VA1216-5MH32-0AG0 measures 105 mm wide, 158 mm tall, and 70 mm deep. That 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for the SENTRON 3VA platform — it drops into the same panel cutout as other 3VA frame sizes, so a retrofit or swap doesn't require re-drilling the mounting plate. Front-facing IP40 protection keeps dust and accidental tool contact out of the mechanism. Ships with one auxiliary switch and one trip alarm switch. No undervoltage release or communication module on this variant.