What this MCCB does and where it fits
The Siemens 3VA2216-5MN32-0BL0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) configured for motor protection, with a rated continuous current Iu of 160 A and an electronic trip unit ETU350M. Three poles, no communication function, and no ground fault monitoring — this is a straight motor-feeder breaker with phase failure detection and an undervoltage release (UVR) built in. The 187 kA breaking capacity at 240 V AC drops to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then to 75.6 kA at 500 V and 17 kA at 690 V — so the SCCR headroom at common distribution voltages (400/415 V) is still substantial for most industrial motor branch circuits. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V. Thermal derating starts at 55 °C: the breaker carries 160 A continuously from 40 °C through 50 °C, then steps down to 153.6 A at 55 °C, 150.4 A at 60 °C, 147.2 A at 65 °C, and 144 A at 70 °C. That curve matters if this breaker lives inside a hot panel near drives or transformers — you lose about 10 % of the ampacity by 70 °C. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to +70 °C; storage range is -40 °C to +80 °C.
Trip unit, auxiliaries, and release configuration
The ETU350M electronic overcurrent release handles motor protection curves. Phase failure detection is standard — the trip unit responds to a lost phase, which is the most common cause of single-phasing motor damage. A mechanical trip indicator gives visual confirmation of a trip event. The auxiliary contact block ships with 2 auxiliary switches + 1 trip alarm switch + 1 electrical alarm switch HQ. The undervoltage release (UVR) is factory-fitted as an integrated auxiliary trip (: 3VA9608-0BB11). The supplied basic switch is order code 3VA2216-5MN32-0AA0. Maximum power loss is 75 W — account for that in the enclosure thermal budget. Mechanical endurance is rated at 20,000 operations. That is typical for a 160 A frame MCCB in motor-switching duty — not a daily-switch application, but fine for infrequent isolation and fault clearing.
Dimensions and panel fit
Footprint: 105 mm wide × 181 mm high × 86 mm deep. The 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole 3VA2 frame width — it occupies three 35 mm DIN-rail modules. Depth of 86 mm includes the case body; add clearance for the rotary handle and cable lugs. Panel cutout and mounting pattern match the 3VA2 family, so a panel already laid out for a 3VA2 160 A frame accepts this unit without re-drilling.