160 A MCCB for Motor Protection — SENTRON 3VA2 Series
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2216-5MN32-0AG0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) rated for 160 A continuous current across the full ambient range of 40 °C to 70 °C — no derating needed up to that ceiling. It is purpose-designed for motor protection, with integrated phase failure detection and a trip indicator that flags a fault event on the front face. Breaking capacity reaches 121 kA at 415 V and 187 kA at 240 V, which places it in the high-interrupting category for industrial distribution panels feeding motor control centers. At 690 V the rating drops to 4.5 kA — a reminder that this breaker is optimized for 400 V class systems, not 690 V drives. The 86 mm depth and 105 mm width fit a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint on the DIN rail or panel-mount plate. Maximum power loss is 19.7 W, so ventilation within the enclosure is advisable if multiple breakers are ganged.
Lifecycle & Sourcing Reality
For BOM freeze or compliance documentation, the manufacturer provides RoHS and REACH declarations as standard for the SENTRON series. UL and IEC certifications apply to the 3VA2 platform, though specific listing numbers should be confirmed against the nameplate at receipt.
Integration Notes for Panel Builders
Mounting dimensions are 181 mm height, 105 mm width, 86 mm depth — allow clearance above and below for arc-chamber venting per Siemens installation instructions. The auxiliary switch configuration is 1 auxiliary switch plus 1 trip alarm switch (HP type), which provides separate NO/NC signals for remote status and fault annunciation. No undervoltage release or shunt trip is fitted from the factory; the order code suffix -0AG0 indicates the basic switch variant without auxiliary releases. If undervoltage protection is needed, specify the -0AA0 base switch and add the release module separately. The breaker has no communication function and no ground-fault monitoring — it is a standalone thermal-magnetic or electronic-trip device for motor branch circuits. Phase failure detection is built in, so it will trip on loss of one phase without an external relay.