What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens 3VA2116-6HL32-0HH0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) in a line protection version, meaning it is configured for feeder and distribution protection rather than motor or generator duty. It carries a rated continuous current Iu of 160 A across a wide ambient temperature window — full rating holds at 40 °C, 45 °C, and 50 °C, then derates to 154 A at 55 °C, 148 A at 60 °C, 142 A at 65 °C, and 136 A at 70 °C. That flat plateau up to 50 °C is useful in a warm panel without oversizing. The interrupting capacity is specified at multiple voltages: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 5 kA at 690 V. For a 415 V distribution board, 187 kA gives substantial headroom above typical available fault currents, which simplifies coordination studies and reduces the need for current-limiting fuses upstream. The overcurrent release is an ETU320 electronic trip unit — a basic but field-proven design with fixed thermal and magnetic curves, no communication or ground-fault monitoring. The breaker ships with a shunt trip release (STL) for remote opening, plus a 2-auxiliary-switch + 1-trip-alarm-switch HQ configuration for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel.
Panel integration and wiring notes
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits SENTRON distribution panels and most DIN-rail or mounting-plate layouts. The 86 mm depth is the body only; allow additional clearance for the shunt trip wiring and auxiliary cable exit. The supplied basic switch is order code 3VA2116-6HL32-0AA0, and the integrated auxiliary trip is 3VA9688-0BL30. If you are replacing an existing 3VA2116-6HL32-0AA0 or retrofitting the shunt trip, these are the exact sub-assembly references for the spare-parts order. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so the breaker is suitable for 690 V line-to-line systems with margin. Maximum power loss is 25.5 W — a non-trivial heat source in a sealed enclosure; account for it in the thermal budget.