MCCB for high-fault panel duty
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-6HN32-0KH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current across the full operating range from -25 °C to 70 °C, with no derating needed up to 70 °C — that means it holds its full 160 A rating in a warm enclosure without bumping up frame size. Breaking capacity hits 242 kA at 240 VAC, 187 kA at 415 VAC, and still delivers 121 kA at 500 VAC, so it handles high-fault utility feeds and transformer secondaries where SCCR requirements are stiff. The line-protection design (no communication function, no ground-fault monitoring) keeps it a straightforward thermal-magnetic or electronic trip unit for main or feeder duty.
What the ratings mean for your panel
The 160 A continuous rating at 40 °C through 70 °C (–) means this breaker carries its full nameplate current inside a hot switchgear lineup — no thermal derate curve to calculate. The 242 kA at 240 VAC is the interrupting rating; paired with the 160 A frame, it gives you selectivity headroom downstream for branch breakers rated up to the available fault current. The shunt trip release (STL) lets a remote emergency-stop or fire-alarm signal open the breaker independently of the trip unit — wired to a control transformer or UPS, it drops the main on command. The 86 mm depth and 105 mm width fit standard SENTRON mounting footprints; the 181 mm height clears most distribution panelboard gutters.