The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-7KP46-0AA0 is a 4-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current, built around the ETU850 electronic trip unit. It's designed for line protection in distribution panels where you need adjustable trip curves and communication capability — the ETU850 gives you LSI (long-time, short-time, instantaneous) protection with a front-panel display and optional PROFIBUS or PROFINET module. The interrupting ratings are the headline here: 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V. That's a high-interrupting-capacity (HIC) frame — it handles fault currents that would vaporize a standard MCCB. At 690 V it drops to 3.7 kA, which is still adequate for most 690 V motor circuits but confirms this breaker is optimized for 240–500 V systems. The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 70 °C ambient — no derating needed in a warm enclosure. That's unusual; most breakers start tapering above 40 °C. The ETU850 compensates electronically.
Lifecycle and Sourcing
The 3VA2 series replaced the older 3VL series a few years back. If you're retrofitting a 3VL panel, the 3VA2 footprint is slightly different — check the 181 x 140 x 86 mm dimensions against your existing mounting base.
Integration Notes
Panel cutout and mounting: the breaker is 181 mm tall, 140 mm wide, 86 mm deep — fits standard Siemens 3VA2 mounting plates. Front IP40 protection means it's fine in a clean indoor panel; not rated for washdown or outdoor exposure. Power loss is 25.5 W maximum at rated current. In a sealed enclosure with multiple breakers side-by-side, that heat adds up — account for it in your thermal budget. The ETU850's communication module adds negligible draw. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, so it's suitable for 690 V systems with margin. The trip indicator and undervoltage release are not fitted on this variant (no voltage trigger, no UVR), but the ETU850 supports external signaling via the communication bus.