The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5HL36-0HH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current, designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries a maximum breaking capacity of 187 kA at 240 V, tapering to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V — the steep drop at the highest voltage tells you this breaker is optimized for 400 V class systems where the bulk of industrial fault duty lives.
What the ratings mean for fit
The 160 A continuous rating holds flat across the entire 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating curve to chase, which simplifies panel thermal budgeting. That 25.5 W maximum power loss at full load is the heat you need to vent; in a crowded enclosure it adds up, so factor it into the thermal simulation. Breaking capacity at 415 V (121 kA) is the figure that governs most European industrial installations — it tells you this MCCB can interrupt a fault up to that level without cascading upstream. The 690 V figure (3.7 kA) is a residual rating; this is not a 690 V primary breaker. The auxiliary switch configuration — 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ) — and the integrated shunt trip (STL) release give the panel builder remote status and emergency trip capability without adding external modules. The undervoltage release is absent, so if your safety circuit requires UVR, you need the variant that carries it.
Panel integration
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures without surprises. The 3VA series uses the same mounting pattern as its predecessor, so a panel tooled for a 3VL or earlier SENTRON frame accepts this unit with no drilling changes.