What this MCCB delivers
The Siemens 3VA2116-5HL32-0AJ0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current at up to 50 °C, with a slight derating curve above that — 154 A at 55 °C, 148 A at 60 °C, 142 A at 65 °C, and 136 A at 70 °C. That means in a warm panel you still have headroom; the 160 A rating holds through most standard enclosure ambient conditions. It carries a 187 kA interrupting rating at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 79 kA at 500 V, and 4.25 kA at 690 V. For a 160 A frame, those numbers put it in the high-interrupting category — it clears serious fault energy without needing an upstream current-limiting fuse in most distribution panels. The ETU320 electronic trip unit gives you adjustable long-time, short-time, and instantaneous protection curves. No voltage trigger, no undervoltage release, no phase-failure detection — this is a straight line-protection breaker, sized for feeder or main-switch duty in a 3-phase system.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this SENTRON frame — it drops into a panel cutout or mounting plate designed for the 3VA2 series without re-drilling. Front protection is IP40, meaning tools and fingers are kept out but the breaker is not sealed against moisture. Mount it inside a panel with a door; it is not rated for washdown environments. Auxiliary contact configuration comes as 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HP type). That gives you two independent status signals for your PLC or annunciator, plus a dedicated alarm contact that changes state only on a trip event — useful for remote fault indication without wiring through the aux contacts.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
Sourced and quoted to order against an RFQ through independent distribution. Availability and current pricing are confirmed at quote time — think landed, not list, especially if you are shipping across borders and need the duty paperwork clean.
What the ratings mean for your BOM line
The 160 A continuous rating at 40–50 °C is the number to spec against for a feeder breaker. If your panel ambient runs above 55 °C, use the derated values — 154 A at 55 °C, 148 A at 60 °C — to avoid nuisance tripping on a warm day. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so this breaker is suitable for 690 V systems (the highest interrupting rating is at that voltage). The 25.5 W maximum power loss means it dissipates heat; ensure ventilation or spacing in a dense panel. Latching endurance is rated at 20 000 operations — that is the mechanical life for the switching mechanism, not the electrical endurance under load.