MCCB for line protection — 160 A continuous, 1600 A frame
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5JQ32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection in distribution panels. It carries 160 A continuously across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling — and sits on a 1600 A frame, meaning the internal mechanism and arc chambers are sized for high-fault energy, not just the trip rating. Interrupting capacity is 187 kA at 240 V, dropping to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA figure at 240 V is the headline — it clears high available fault currents common on the secondary side of large step-down transformers without needing a current-limiting fuse upstream. Footprint is 86 mm deep, 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall — a standard MCCB envelope for this frame class. The 105 mm width per 3-pole block fits typical DIN-rail or panel-mount layouts; verify gland-plate cutout against the existing backplate if retrofitting into a tightly packed enclosure.
Integration notes
The breaker includes a shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release and two auxiliary switches (HQ). The shunt trip allows remote tripping from a safety circuit or emergency-stop chain — wire it to a 24 VDC or 110 VAC signal, polarity matters for DC coils. The auxiliary switches provide status feedback (open/closed) to a PLC or indication lamp. Communication function is built in, so this variant supports remote monitoring and trip-data retrieval over the SENTRON bus — useful for energy management or predictive maintenance without adding an external module. Maximum power loss is 25.5 W. In a sealed enclosure with multiple breakers, that heat adds up; account for it in the thermal budget to avoid nuisance tripping from elevated internal ambient.