The Siemens 3VA2116-5KP32-0AD0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current on a 3-pole frame. It carries an ETU850 electronic trip unit, meaning the protection curve is programmable and the breaker can communicate status over the integrated communication function — not a thermal-magnetic fixed-trip device. Breaking capacity runs 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415/440 V, 79 kA at 500 V, and 4.25 kA at 690 V. That 187 kA at 240 V is the headline number for high-fault industrial panels; the 690 V figure is low enough that you need to verify coordination if the line side has significant available fault current at that voltage.
Thermal derating and panel fit
The breaker holds its full 160 A rating up to 50 °C ambient. Above that it derates linearly: 154 A at 55 °C, 148 A at 60 °C, 142 A at 65 °C, 136 A at 70 °C. If the panel ambient runs at 60 °C, the effective continuous current drops to 148 A — that is the number to use for load-side conductor sizing. Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, 86 mm deep. The width matches the standard 105 mm SENTRON 3VA2 frame footprint, so it drops into the same panel cutout and busbar arrangement as other breakers in that frame family. The depth of 86 mm includes the arc chamber — verify clearance to the enclosure door.
Trip unit and auxiliary contacts
The ETU850 is an electronic trip unit with communication capability — it can report trip events, load current, and alarm conditions over the breaker's integrated communication function. This is the version with three HQ auxiliary switches for remote status indication. No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, no voltage trigger on this variant. Maximum power loss is 25.5 W at rated current. That matters for thermal management inside a sealed enclosure — if you pack multiple breakers at full load, the cumulative heat needs to stay within the panel's dissipation budget.