Siemens SENTRON 3VA2216-7MN32-0AH0 is a 3-pole molded case circuit breaker rated for 160 A continuous current, built around the ETU350M electronic trip unit. It's the motor-protection variant of the 3VA2 frame, meaning it includes phase-failure detection and a dedicated trip indicator — features that matter when the breaker is feeding a motor directly rather than a distribution bus. The interrupting ratings climb to 330 kA at 240 V and stay at 242 kA through 440 V, then taper to 187 kA at 500 V and 52.5 kA at 690 V. That's enough headroom for most industrial service-entrance and feeder applications; the 52.5 kA at 690 V still covers high-voltage motor circuits in 690 V plants. Thermal derating is flat from 40 °C to 50 °C at 160 A, then drops 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 the panel ambient runs above 50 °C, the 160 A nameplate becomes a 144 A breaker — plan the load accordingly.
Sourcing & Lifecycle
The auxiliary contact configuration ships as 2 auxiliary switches plus 1 trip alarm switch (HQ type). No undervoltage release, no ground-fault monitoring module, and no communication function are built in — those are add-on options if the application requires them.
Panel Fit & Integration
The 3VA2 frame measures 105 mm wide by 181 mm tall by 86 mm deep. That's a standard MCCB footprint for a 160 A class; it drops into the same cutout and bus connection pattern as other 3VA2 breakers. The front face carries IP40 protection — fine for a dry indoor panel, not for washdown zones. Rated insulation voltage is 800 V, and maximum power loss hits 75 W. In a dense enclosure, that 75 W needs to be factored into the thermal budget — don't stack it against other high-loss devices without airflow.