What it is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5HN36-0JC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current across the full 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to that ceiling. It's designed for line protection in distribution panels, with a maximum interrupting capacity of 187 kA at 240 V AC and 121 kA at 415/440 V. That SCCR headroom means it can clear high-fault currents on the secondary side of a large transformer without cascading upstream breakers.
Key ratings and what they mean for fit
The 160 A continuous rating holds flat from 40 °C through 70 °C — that's a solid thermal design; you don't need to oversize for a warm panel. Interrupting ratings step down with voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415/440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. The steep drop at 690 V is typical for this frame size — if your system runs 690 V with fault current above 3.7 kA, this breaker won't clear it. The built-in shunt trip (STL) allows remote tripping, and the two HQ auxiliary switches give status feedback to a PLC or annunciator. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no communication module — this is a straightforward line-protection breaker with a clean auxiliary package.
Panel fit and dimensions
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most DIN-rail or panel-mount enclosures without surprises. The 25.5 W maximum power loss at full load is moderate; plan for ventilation if the panel is densely packed. The supplied basic switch (order code 3VA21165HN360AA0) is the internal switching mechanism — the breaker ships as a complete unit, not a kit.
Environmental and compliance
Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. The breaker carries no trip indicator and no ground-fault monitoring — it's a thermal-magnetic line-protection device, not a GFCI. Compliance documentation (RoHS, REACH, UL, IEC) is standard for the SENTRON series and available through the manufacturer's documentation portal.