The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-6HN32-0CC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling. That 160 A holds steady from 40 °C all the way to 70 °C, so it handles warm panel environments without a down-rate. Breaking capacity is the headline here: 242 kA at 240 V, 187 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 121 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 242 kA at 240 V means it can interrupt a fault current up to 242,000 A without failing — high enough for most industrial service-entrance or large-feeder applications where available fault current is substantial. It ships with an undervoltage release (UVR) fitted and two HQ auxiliary switches, so it's ready for applications that need a shunt trip on loss of control voltage and status feedback to a PLC or indicator light. The UVR is the design-of-the-auxiliary-release type, meaning it trips the breaker when coil voltage drops below a threshold — common in safety circuits and emergency-stop chains.
Sizing and selectivity
The 160 A frame is sized for main feeders or large branch circuits in distribution panels. The continuous rating is flat across the temperature band, so you don't lose capacity as the panel warms up — that's unusual for an MCCB and simplifies coordination studies. The 3-pole configuration covers three-phase loads; no neutral pole here, so it's for line-side protection only. Power loss is listed at 28 W maximum — that's the heat it dumps into the enclosure at full rated current. For a panel builder, that figure feeds into the thermal rise calculation for the cabinet; 28 W per breaker is manageable in a ventilated enclosure but adds up in a sealed box with multiple breakers.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. That covers unheated warehouses and outdoor cabinets in most climates. The -25 °C minimum means it's fine for cold storage or northern installations without a heater.