What this MCCB is and what it protects
The Siemens 3VA2216-5HL32-0HL0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) designed for line protection — meaning it sits at the feeder or main distribution point, not downstream on a motor or branch circuit. Rated 160 A continuous across the full ambient range from 40 °C to 70 °C, so no derating headache when the panel runs hot. Three poles, no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring built in. The trip unit covers 240 A to 1 920 A, which gives the engineer room to set the pickup for cable or busbar protection without swapping the breaker frame.
Short-circuit withstand — what the kA numbers actually mean for coordination
This MCCB carries a 187 kA interrupting rating at 240 V, 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 4.5 kA at 690 V. The 187 kA at 240 V is the headline — that is a very high SCCR, typical for a large-frame SENTRON 3VA2 used on a transformer secondary or high-fault busway. At 415/440 V the 121 kA still clears most industrial service-entrance faults without cascading upstream. The drop to 4.5 kA at 690 V means this breaker is not the right choice for a 690 V distribution board unless the available fault current is known to stay under that threshold. For a 400 V panel, the 121 kA rating gives solid selectivity headroom against downstream MCCBs.
Auxiliary and release configuration — what ships on the breaker
Factory-fitted with a shunt trip (STL) release for remote tripping — that is the -0HL0 suffix's job. The auxiliary switch complement is 2 auxiliary switches + 1 trip alarm switch + 1 electrical alarm switch, all HQ-rated (high switching reliability). That means you get two Form C contacts for status feedback, one contact that changes state only when the breaker trips on fault (not manual off), and a fourth contact for the electrical alarm. The basic switch assembly is order code 3VA2216-5HL32-0AA0, which is the bare breaker without auxiliaries — this -0HL0 variant is the fully loaded version. No communication function, no undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring.
Physical fit — dimensions for panel layout
The breaker measures 86 mm deep by 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall. That 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole SENTRON 3VA2 footprint — it fits the same mounting cutout and busbar spacing as other 3VA2 three-pole frames, so a panel laid out for a 160 A 3VA2 will accept this unit without redrilling the backplate or relocating the bus stack. The 86 mm depth is the overall body, not including handle projection; account for the rotary handle throw in the door cutout.