What this MCCB carries and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA2116-5HL36-0AE0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current across the full 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to that ceiling. It is a 3-pole unit built for line protection, meaning it guards the feeder or distribution bus against overload and short-circuit, not a specific motor load. The 800 V rated insulation voltage gives it headroom for 480 V and 600 V class systems, and the 25.5 W maximum power loss is manageable for a panel's thermal budget if you keep some air gap around the breaker. Breaking capacity is the headline here: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA at 240 V is a high-interrupting rating — it can clear a massive fault on a low-voltage distribution transformer secondary without the arc re-striking. For a panel builder, this means you can place it downstream of a high-capacity transformer without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream to protect the breaker itself.
Panel fit and wiring notes
The 3VA2116-5HL36-0AE0 measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is a standard 4-module footprint on a DIN rail — it will occupy four 27 mm-wide positions. The 86 mm depth means it clears most 200 mm deep enclosures, but check your gland plate clearance if you are running cables behind the breaker. The auxiliary switch configuration is listed as 4 auxiliary switches HQ — that gives you four form-C contacts for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel, which is generous for a breaker this size. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. If this breaker lives in an unheated outdoor cabinet in a northern climate, the -25 °C lower limit is fine for most locations; the storage range covers shipping and idle periods. No undervoltage release or shunt trip is built in — if you need remote tripping, you will add an external module.
What the ratings mean for selectivity
The 160 A continuous rating is the same at every ambient from 40 °C to 70 °C — that is unusual and useful. Most MCCBs derate as the panel warms up; this one does not, so you can size the feeder for 160 A and not worry about nuisance tripping on a hot summer day. The 800 V rated insulation voltage means the breaker's internal clearances and creepage are designed for 800 V systems, so it is comfortable on 480 V and 600 V networks with margin. For selectivity studies, the 187 kA at 240 V and 121 kA at 415 V give you the let-through curves you need to coordinate with downstream breakers.