What this MCCB carries — and where it sits
The Siemens 3VA2116-5HL36-0CA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current (Iu) across a 3-pole configuration, fitted with an ETU320 electronic trip unit for line protection. The 800 V rated insulation voltage (Ui) means it's sized for 400/480 V distribution panels with headroom to spare — common in industrial switchboards feeding motor control centers or downstream sub-distribution. Breaking capacity ranges from 187 kA at 240 V down to 4.25 kA at 690 V, so at typical 415 V line-to-line it interrupts 121 kA — enough for high-fault utility feeds without cascading upstream breakers. Current-carrying ability holds flat at 160 A up to 50 °C ambient, then derates linearly to 136 A at 70 °C — a curve that matters when the breaker sits in a densely packed enclosure near transformers or drives.
Mounting and panel fit
Dimensions are 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall by 86 mm deep — standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for a 160 A frame. Mounts on a DIN rail or direct panel; the 86 mm depth leaves clearance behind a 200 mm deep enclosure door. The 28 W maximum power loss at rated current should be factored into enclosure thermal calculations — a non-ventilated cabinet with multiple breakers at full load needs venting or forced air.
Trip unit and auxiliary options
The ETU320 electronic trip unit provides adjustable overload and short-circuit protection curves without needing to swap thermal elements. This version ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) — part number 3VA9608-0BB24 — that drops the breaker on loss of control voltage, a typical requirement for emergency-stop circuits or undervoltage protection schemes. No auxiliary contact block, no voltage trigger, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication module are included on this variant. If you need those, the base switch (3VA2116-5HL36-0AA0) accepts field-installable accessories. Mechanical endurance is rated at 20,000 operations — typical for a distribution breaker not cycled daily; for frequent switching duty, consider a contactor in series.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
Operating temperature range is -25 °C to +70 °C, storage from -40 °C to +80 °C. The storage minimum matters for unheated warehouses in cold climates; the operating maximum governs derating in hot enclosures.