What this MCCB delivers — and what the ratings mean for your panel
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5HN36-0BL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for a continuous current Iu of 160 A, with an ETU350 electronic trip unit configured for line protection. The interrupting ratings are what define its fit in a distribution board: 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at both 415 V and 440 V, 79 kA at 500 V, and 4.25 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V means this breaker can safely clear a fault current up to that level without rupturing — critical for high-fault-capacity service entrances or transformer secondaries where the available short-circuit current is substantial. The 121 kA at 415 V is the figure you coordinate against for most industrial 400 V distribution. The thermal derating curve is published across the operating range: the breaker carries the full 160 A from 40 °C through 50 °C, then steps down to 154 A at 55 °C, 148 A at 60 °C, 142 A at 65 °C, and 136 A at 70 °C. If the panel ambient runs above 50 °C, that derating is the number to apply — not the 160 A nameplate. The rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, which covers 690 V systems with margin.
Auxiliary contacts and undervoltage release — what's wired in
This variant ships with an integrated auxiliary contact configuration: 2 auxiliary switches (form C), plus 1 trip alarm switch and 1 electrical alarm switch, designated HQ. That's the full complement for remote status indication — open/closed, trip, and alarm on separate signal paths. The undervoltage release (UVR) is factory-fitted; its design is the standard undervoltage release type. The UVR will trip the breaker when control voltage drops below a threshold, which is the usual spec for emergency-stop or undervoltage protection schemes in machine supply circuits. The auxiliary trip assembly carries order code 3VA9608-0BB11, and the supplied basic switch assembly is 3VA2116-5HN36-0AA0 — these are the internal sub-assemblies, not external accessories. The breaker itself draws a maximum power loss of 28 W at rated current; that's the heat you need to account for in the enclosure thermal calculation.
Physical fit and environmental limits
Dimensions: 105 mm width, 181 mm height, 86 mm depth. That depth of 86 mm is the dimension from the mounting surface to the front of the breaker — relevant when fitting into a shallow enclosure or when clearance is needed for the arc chamber behind a deadfront. The operating temperature range spans -25 °C to 70 °C, with storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The latching endurance is rated at 20,000 operations — that's the mechanical life for the switching mechanism under no-load conditions.