MCCB for motor protection — 160 A frame with ETU350M
The Siemens 3VA2216-7MN32-0AC0 is a SENTRON molded case circuit breaker in the motor protection version, rated for a continuous current Iu of 160 A. It carries a 3-pole design and an ETU350M electronic overcurrent release, which gives you adjustable thermal-magnetic curves plus phase failure detection — that last one is critical on motor loads where a lost phase can burn a winding before the thermal overload catches it. Breaking capacity runs 330 kA at 240 V AC, stepping down to 242 kA at 415 V and 440 V, then 187 kA at 500 V, and 52.5 kA at 690 V. That 330 kA figure at 240 V is the headline — it means this breaker can interrupt a fault current up to that level without welding contacts or venting arc gas into the panel. For a 160 A frame, that is a high-interrupting rating suited for large transformer secondaries or busway feeds where available fault current is stiff.
Trip unit and auxiliary contacts
The ETU350M is a microprocessor-based trip unit with LSI curves (long-time, short-time, instantaneous). It ships with two HQ auxiliary switches (form C) for status feedback to a PLC or annunciator panel. No undervoltage release or shunt trip is fitted from the factory — those are add-on accessories if your safety circuit requires a remote trip. Rated insulation voltage Ui is 800 V, so the breaker is good for 690 V systems with margin. Maximum power loss is 75 W at rated current — that matters for enclosure thermal calculations if you are packing multiple breakers in a small cabinet.
Physical fit and environment
Dimensions: 181 mm high, 105 mm wide, 86 mm deep. That 105 mm width is the standard 3-pole MCCB footprint for this frame size — it will drop into a panel bus that accepts SENTRON 3VA2 breakers without re-drilling. Front face carries IP40 protection (finger-safe terminals, not hose-down); the breaker is intended for dry indoor panels, not washdown zones. Ambient operating range is -25 °C to 70 °C, with a storage range of -40 °C to 80 °C. Current derating starts above 55 °C — the breaker carries full 160 A up to 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. If your panel ambient runs hot, use the 55 °C row for sizing.