What this 160 A MCCB does on the line
The Siemens SENTRON 3VA2216-5MN32-0KL0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current, built specifically for motor protection duty with an ETU350M electronic trip unit. It carries phase failure detection as standard, so it catches a lost phase before the motor cooks. Interrupting capacity runs 187 kA at 240 V, dropping to 121 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 75.6 kA at 500 V, and 17 kA at 690 V — that covers most industrial distribution panels up to the 690 V tier without needing a current-limiting upstream breaker.
Thermal derating — what the 160 A means at panel ambient
The 160 A rating holds from 40 °C through 50 °C. 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 the panel runs hot — say near a VFD bank or a transformer — the real continuous current you can pull is 144 A, not 160 A. That derating curve is the number to size the load against, not the sticker rating.
Auxiliary and trip integration
This variant ships with 2 auxiliary switches plus a trip alarm switch and an electrical alarm switch (HQ type). It also includes a shunt trip release (STL) for remote tripping, and the integrated auxiliary trip module is order code 3VA9688-0BL33. The basic switch supplied is 3VA2216-5MN32-0AA0. Maximum power loss is 75 W — worth factoring into the enclosure thermal budget if it's in a sealed cabinet.
Physical fit in the panel
Dimensions are 105 mm wide, 181 mm high, and 86 mm deep. That's a standard SENTRON 3VA2 frame footprint — it bolts into the same mounting pattern as other 160 A 3-pole units in the series. No surprises on the gland plate or busbar alignment if you're swapping into an existing Siemens panel.