160 A MCCB with full-rated thermal performance
The Siemens 3VA2116-5JQ32-0AH0 is a SENTRON 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated at 160 A continuous current, and it holds that rating across the full ambient temperature range from 40 °C through 70 °C — no derating curve to chase for standard panel environments. Interrupting capacity reaches 187 kA at 240 V, stepping down to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, and 75.6 kA at 500 V; at 690 V the rating drops to 3.7 kA, which defines the upper voltage boundary for this frame. Designed for line protection, this MCCB includes a communication function and comes with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ configuration), making it suitable for integration into monitored distribution schemes.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 181 mm height, 105 mm width, and 86 mm depth — the depth is the dimension that matters most when retrofitting into an existing MCCB bucket or enclosure where rear clearance is tight. The 3VA2 frame mounts on a standard DIN rail or can be screw-fixed to a backplate; the 86 mm depth leaves room for rear-access wiring in most enclosures.
Electrical ratings and trip characteristics
The thermal-magnetic trip unit is set at a fixed rating of 160 A full-scale, with an initial pickup value of 32 A — this is the long-time delay threshold, not the instantaneous magnetic pickup. Maximum power loss is 25.5 W at rated load, which factors into enclosure thermal calculations if multiple breakers are ganged in a small cabinet. Operating temperature range spans -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range extends from -40 °C to 80 °C.