The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2116-8JQ36-0AA0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current, designed for line protection in distribution panels. Its interrupting capacity reaches 440 kA at 240 V, 330 kA at 415 V, and 220 kA at 500 V — figures that govern its ability to clear a fault without upstream damage. The 160 A rating holds flat across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C, so no derating curve to apply in a warm enclosure.
Interrupting capacity and what it means for panel coordination
The 440 kA at 240 V is the peak short-circuit current this MCCB can safely interrupt at that voltage level. At 690 V the rating drops to 52.5 kA — still substantial, but the voltage-dependent curve is the one to check against your transformer's fault current. The 160 A continuous rating is the full-scale value, with an initial setting of 32 A; the trip unit is adjustable between those limits.
Panel fit and integration
Mounts in a standard distribution panel footprint: 181 mm height, 105 mm width, 86 mm depth. The 3-pole form factor occupies three module spaces on a DIN rail. Maximum power dissipation is 19.7 W — account for that in the enclosure thermal budget. Communication function is built in, supporting integration with upstream monitoring systems.
Environmental and monitoring features
Rated insulation voltage is 800 V. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C. Ground-fault monitoring uses summation current formation on the L-conductor. No undervoltage release or voltage trigger is fitted on this variant. No trip indicator is present on the front face.