SENTRON 3VA2 — 160 A line-protection MCCB with full-breaking-capacity coverage
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-6HN32-0BH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current across the full 40 °C to 70 °C ambient range — no derating needed up to 70 °C. It is designed for line protection (cable and busbar feeder protection) in commercial and industrial distribution panels. Breaking capacity spans from 242 kA at 240 V down to 3.7 kA at 690 V, covering high-fault utility service entrances (242 kA at 240 V) through 690 V industrial loads where the available fault current is lower. At 415 V and 440 V it delivers 187 kA; at 500 V, 121 kA. Maximum power loss is 28 W, which matters for thermal budgeting inside a sealed or high-fill-factor enclosure — every watt conducted into the cabinet raises internal ambient and may affect adjacent devices.
Built-in auxiliary and undervoltage release — no separate purchase needed
This MCCB ships with 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ type) already installed, and an undervoltage release (UVR) integrated. That means the UVR will trip the breaker if control voltage drops below its dropout threshold — standard for emergency-stop or undervoltage-protection schemes where loss of control power must open the main feeder. A trip indicator is present on the front face, giving immediate visual confirmation that the breaker has opened on fault rather than by manual switching.
Footprint and panel integration
Dimensions are 86 mm deep, 105 mm wide, 181 mm high — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that fits most Siemens SENTRON mounting bases and busbar systems. Verify the busbar pitch and cable lug centers against the existing panel layout before committing the BOM line. Storage temperature range of -40 °C to 80 °C exceeds the operating range (-25 °C to 70 °C), so the part can sit in an unheated warehouse or shipping container without damage — the storage limit governs handling, not running.