What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-5JQ32-0KL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) on a 160 A frame, designed for line protection in distribution panels and industrial switchboards. Its interrupting ratings are the headline: 187 kA at 240 V AC, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V — that 187 kA figure means it can safely clear a bolted fault on a high-capacity 240 V transformer secondary without the arc flashing over or the case rupturing. Continuous current rating holds at 160 A across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating curve to chase for a warm panel. The breaker ships with a shunt trip release (STL) and a complement of auxiliary switches: 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm and 1 electrical alarm switch (HQ configuration), which gives the panel builder status feedback without adding external relays.
Panel fit and integration
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep — a standard MCCB footprint that drops into most SENTRON panelboards and distribution blocks without re-drilling the mounting plate. Maximum power dissipation is 25.5 W, so the thermal load on the enclosure is modest; operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The breaker includes a communication function for remote monitoring and trip-event logging; the basic switch is the 3VA21165JQ320AA0 variant.