What this 3VA2116-5HL36-0BL0 is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5HL36-0BL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current across the full 40–70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to 70 °C. Its adjustable thermal-magnetic trip unit covers 240 A to 1600 A, which means you set the actual protection threshold to match the downstream load, not the breaker frame. That 160 A continuous rating is the frame limit; the trip setting determines what the breaker will carry without opening. The interrupting ratings climb steeply at lower voltages: 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. For a 480 V panel in North America the relevant figure is the 121 kA at 440 V — that is the SCCR the breaker can clear without welding its contacts or venting arc gas into the enclosure. The 3.7 kA at 690 V tells you this frame is not sized for 690 V main-feed duty; it is a line-protection device for lower-voltage distribution. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) fitted, plus a complement of 2 auxiliary switches, 1 trip alarm switch, and 1 electrical alarm switch (HQ type). That means you get both remote status and undervoltage tripping without adding accessory kits — the UVR will drop the breaker if control voltage falls below its dropout threshold, which is standard for emergency-stop chains or mains-monitoring schemes.
Sourcing and lifecycle reality
Because it is an active Siemens SENTRON part, the compliance documentation — RoHS, REACH, UL, IEC — is available from Siemens' standard document portal under the 3VA series. The breaker itself is designed to IEC 60947-2 and carries the relevant markings for European and North American installations.
Panel fit and integration
Physical dimensions: 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is a standard 4-module footprint on a DIN rail or panel-mount adapter — it occupies the same horizontal space as most 160 A frame MCCBs. The 86 mm depth means it clears a standard 200 mm deep enclosure with room for rear-mounted busbars or cable ducts. Maximum power loss is 28 W at rated current. That is moderate for a 160 A frame — it will raise the internal enclosure temperature a few degrees, but within the -25 °C to 70 °C operating range of the breaker itself. If the panel is tightly packed, check the cumulative heat dissipation against your enclosure's thermal budget.
How it compares to the 3VA2116-5HL32-0AK0
The closest functional sibling is the 3VA2116-5HL32-0AK0. Both are 3-pole, 160 A continuous, SENTRON MCCBs with the same adjustable trip range. The difference is in the accessory complement: the -5HL36-0BL0 carries an undervoltage release plus the full auxiliary switch set (2 aux + 1 trip alarm + 1 electrical alarm), while the -5HL32-0AK0 ships without the UVR and with a different switch configuration. If your panel already has a separate undervoltage monitoring relay, the -5HL32-0AK0 will drop into the same mounting footprint and busbar connection — no rewiring of the main power path needed. But if the UVR is part of your safety circuit, the -5HL36-0BL0 is the correct order code.