Siemens 3VA2216-5MN32-0HC0 — 160 A Motor Protection MCCB with ETU350M
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2216-5MN32-0HC0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current, built specifically for motor protection duty. It carries a phase failure detection function, so when one leg drops out on a three-phase motor, this breaker trips — that's the difference between a quick restart and a burned-up winding. The ETU350M electronic trip unit handles the overcurrent release, giving you adjustable thermal and magnetic curves that a fixed-trip breaker can't match. Interrupting capacity is the headline here: 187 kA at 240 V, 121 kA at both 415 V and 440 V, 75.6 kA at 500 V, and still 17 kA at 690 V. That's enough headroom for most industrial distribution panels, even those feeding large motor control centers where fault current runs high. If you're coordinating downstream starters, the 121 kA at 415 V means you can likely skip a current-limiting fuse upstream on a 400 V MCC. Physically, it measures 105 mm wide, 181 mm tall, and 86 mm deep — a standard 3-pole MCCB footprint that drops into a SENTRON panelboard or a DIN-rail adapter. Operating temperature range is -25 °C to 70 °C, storage from -40 °C to 80 °C. The shunt trip (STL) auxiliary release is built in, and it ships with two HQ auxiliary switches for remote status feedback.
Thermal Derating and Duty Cycle
The 160 A rating holds flat from 40 °C through 50 °C ambient — that's the sweet spot for most enclosed panels. At 55 °C it derates to 153.6 A, at 60 °C to 150.4 A, at 65 °C to 147.2 A, and at 70 °C to 144 A. If your panel runs hot near a drive cabinet or a bank of contactors, you've got a clear derating curve to size against. Maximum power loss is 75 W, which matters for ventilation planning in a sealed enclosure.
Panel Integration and Wiring
The 105 mm width matches standard 3-pole MCCB mounting centers. Line and load lugs accept copper or aluminum conductors sized for 160 A. The ETU350M trip unit gives you adjustable settings for long-time pickup, short-time pickup, instantaneous pickup, and ground fault — all set via rotary dials on the front face, no software needed. The two HQ auxiliary switches (one normally open, one normally closed) are pre-wired to terminal blocks for easy integration into a PLC or motor control circuit. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V. The shunt trip release (STL) allows remote tripping from an E-stop or safety relay.