Siemens 3VA2216-6JP32-0HF0 SENTRON MCCB — 160 A, 3-Pole, Line Protection
This SENTRON 3VA2216-6JP32-0HF0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current at 40 °C, with a maximum interrupting capacity of 242 kA at 240 V — enough to handle high-fault utility feeds or transformer secondaries without cascading upstream. It's a line-protection design (not motor or generator protection), so the trip curve and accessories are tuned for feeder and main breaker duty in distribution panels. The breaker carries a shunt trip release (STL) and one auxiliary switch plus one trip alarm switch as standard, which means you can integrate remote tripping and status feedback without adding external relay logic. The communication function is onboard, so it can talk to a BMS or PLC for load shedding or event logging.
Breaking capacity across voltages — where it fits
At 415 V and 440 V it still delivers 187 kA, dropping to 121 kA at 500 V and 4.5 kA at 690 V. That last figure is the real boundary: if your panel runs 690 V with fault current above 4.5 kA, this breaker is not the right choice — you'd need a higher-rated frame. For 240–500 V systems, though, the margins are generous even for high-fault scenarios like large transformer banks or industrial substations.
Mounting and integration notes
The breaker measures 105 mm wide × 181 mm high × 86 mm deep — a standard MCCB footprint for 160 A frames. It mounts on a DIN rail or directly to a backplate via the integral lugs. The 86 mm depth means it fits into shallow enclosures where a deeper breaker would force a larger cabinet. Three poles, so it handles three-phase feeders; the neutral is not switched through this unit.
Environmental and thermal derating
Rated 160 A continuous across the full ambient range from 40 °C up to 70 °C — no derating needed until you exceed 70 °C, which is unusual for a 160 A frame. Storage range is -40 °C to 80 °C, operating -25 °C to 70 °C. Max power loss is 19.7 W, so heat dissipation inside the enclosure is modest for this current class.