What the ratings mean for fit
The Siemens 3VA2116-5HL32-0DC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) sized for line protection in distribution panels. Its 160 A continuous rating holds flat across the full 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to that ceiling, which simplifies panel layout in warm enclosures. The 3-pole design with an undervoltage release (UVR) means it trips on loss of control voltage, a common requirement for safety disconnects on machine infeed circuits. Breaking capacity is the headline: 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V is unusually high for a 160 A frame — it tells you this breaker is designed for high-fault utility or transformer-secondaries where available fault current is severe. At 690 V the capacity drops to 3.7 kA, which still covers most industrial motor-circuit faults at that voltage level. Physical fit: 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, 86 mm deep. That width is standard for a 3-pole MCCB in this class — it occupies one full module on a DIN-rail or panel-mount footprint. The 86 mm depth is shallow enough for most 200 mm deep enclosures, leaving room for wiring gutters.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
The 28 W maximum power loss at rated load is worth noting for thermal management in a sealed enclosure — it is not negligible, so factor it into your panel heat budget if the breaker is fully loaded.
Integration notes
The breaker ships with two auxiliary switches (HQ design) and an undervoltage release fitted. The auxiliary switches provide status feedback to a PLC or indicating lamp — one normally-open and one normally-closed contact per switch. The UVR trips the breaker when control voltage drops below a threshold, which is typical for emergency-stop chains or undervoltage protection schemes. No communication function or ground-fault monitoring is built in — this is a plain line-protection MCCB. If you need remote trip indication or ground-fault sensing, you add external modules or choose a different variant. The operating temperature range is -25 °C to +70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to +80 °C.