What this MCCB is and what it does
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2216-5HL32-0HH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current, designed for line protection in distribution panels and switchgear. Its breaking capacity scales with system voltage: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V — so the 240 V figure governs high-fault applications like transformer secondaries, while the 690 V rating still clears moderate faults on 690 V industrial networks. The 160 A rating holds flat across the full operating temperature range from -25 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to 70 °C ambient, which simplifies panel layout in hot environments like motor control centers.
Physical fit and panel integration
Dimensions are 86 mm deep, 105 mm wide, and 181 mm high — the 105 mm width is the standard 4-module footprint for SENTRON 3VA2 breakers, so it drops into existing panel cutouts and busbar systems without adapter plates. Power loss at rated current is 19.7 W maximum — a figure worth checking against your enclosure's thermal budget if the panel is densely packed.
Auxiliary and release configuration
This variant ships with a shunt trip (STL) release and 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ configuration) — the shunt trip allows remote tripping from a PLC or emergency-stop circuit, and the HQ contact set provides status feedback for the breaker position and fault condition. It includes a voltage trigger and trip indicator, but no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring, and no communication function — it is a straightforward line-protection breaker with remote trip capability and local status indication.