The Siemens 3VA2116-7KQ32-0AA0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker sized for 160 A continuous current in a 3-pole, line-protection configuration. That 160 A holds flat from 40 °C all the way up to 70 °C — no derating curve to chase on a hot panel day, which is exactly what you want when the MCC is sitting next to a furnace line or a roof-mounted AHU. Interrupting capacity is the headline here: 330 kA at 240 V, 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 187 kA at 500 V, and 3.7 kA at 690 V. That 242 kA at 415 V is what matters for most North American and European industrial panels — it clears a bolted fault on a 400 V bus without the breaker becoming the failure point, which keeps upstream transformers and switchgear from taking the hit. This is a line-protection breaker (not motor-protection), so it's sized for feeder and distribution duty — feeding a sub-panel, a busway tap, or a large load bank. The 800 V rated insulation voltage gives headroom for 690 V systems common in mining, marine, and European industrial installs.
Sourcing & lifecycle
The 86 mm depth, 105 mm width, and 181 mm height match the standard 3VA footprint. If you're replacing an older 3VA or 3VL frame, check the mounting plate and bus bar centers — the 3VA series shares the same bolt-hole pattern as its predecessor, so it usually drops in without re-drilling the back panel.
Integration notes
Communication function is built in — the breaker supports the SENTRON communication platform for power monitoring and remote trip indication. That means you can pull load data and event logs over the plant network without an external CT module or a separate power meter hanging off the bus. Ground-fault monitoring uses summation current formation on the L-conductor, which catches leakage on the load side without a separate GFCI module. Useful for panels feeding branch circuits where ground-fault coordination matters — think datacenter PDU feeds or medical-grade distribution. Power loss is 25.5 W maximum at rated load — negligible for panel cooling calculations, but worth noting if you're packing multiple breakers in a sealed enclosure. No undervoltage release on this variant, so it stays latched in on a sag without dropping the load.