What this MCCB delivers on the line side
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5HL32-0KH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling. Breaking capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415 V / 440 V, dropping to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V means this breaker can interrupt a fault current up to that level without upstream devices needing to clear it first — critical for high-fault panels where the utility transformer sits close to the service entrance.
Line protection design with shunt trip
This variant is configured for line protection (not feeder or motor protection), meaning the thermal-magnetic trip curve is set for cable and busbar protection in distribution panels. It ships with a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and carries 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ designation). The shunt trip allows remote tripping via a control voltage — useful for emergency-off circuits or interlocking with a fire-alarm panel. No undervoltage release is fitted on this order code. There is no ground-fault monitoring module and no communication function; this is a standalone breaker for hardwired distribution.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep. The 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this SENTRON frame — it occupies three 35 mm DIN-rail modules worth of panel width. The 86 mm depth includes the arc-chamber housing and rear terminals; verify clearance to the enclosure door or deadfront. Maximum power loss at rated current is 25.5 W, so ventilation in a sealed enclosure should account for that dissipation. Storage range spans -40 °C to 80 °C; operating ambient is -25 °C to 70 °C.